Can Barca further reduce the gap to the top?

Thanks to the slip-up of the royals last weekend against Espanyol, the Catalans were able to restore their connection to the top of the table with a 1-0 win over Alaves. With three and four points respectively behind the two capital city clubs, Hansi Flick’s men now have the chance to get even closer.

With the Madrid derby coming up in this round and the two title contenders set to take points off each other, the Catalans can put a lot of pressure on the top with a win in Andalusia. The prerequisite for this, of course, is that the visitors win at Sevilla against Barcelona as predicted.

In addition to a tip on Hansi Flick’s team, which should be combined in the event of Sevilla vs. Barcelona due to low betting odds, a bet on the goals is also worthwhile in this game, which can be played with the Interwetten Freebet completely without risk. With 60 goals, the team around superstar Lewandowski is by far the best offense in the league. The “bats” from Valencia had to experience this first hand on Thursday, when they conceded a 0-5 defeat in the quarter-finals of the cup.

Sevilla FC is a welcome opponent in any case. The Catalans have won all of the last six direct duels. It has been nine and a half years since the Andalusians last won against the 27-time champions in the league. So in the Sevilla v Barcelona game, in which the odds predict a clear victory for the away team, it can be assumed that the Catalans will go into the game with a lot of confidence.

Sevilla – Statistics & current form

The Andalusians are in the no-man’s-land of the table in twelfth place. The seven-time Europa League winner has only lost one of its last five La Liga games, but has also only won one. With 28 points, Garcia Pimienta’s team is, however, closer to the European starting places than to the relegation zone.

Weak defense

However, to qualify for a European competition this season, the team still needs to make significant progress. In addition to the low scoring rate of 1.1 goals per game, which is not uncommon for La Liga, the defense is a major problem. Thirty goals conceded in 22 games may not seem like that many at first glance, but in a league known for low scoring, except for the top teams, their effect is clearly noticeable. Only one team from the top twelve has had to clear the ball out of its own net more often.

Instead of investing in the defense during the winter transfer window, the Andalusian club did the exact opposite. The only two new signings, Akor Adams from Montpellier and Ruben Vargas from Bundesliga club FC Augsburg, are not expected to provide any defensive highlights. However, their goal-scoring ability could ensure that the betting tip of many goals comes true in the match between Sevilla and Barcelona.

Expected Sevilla line-up:

Barcelona – Statistics & current form

After two wins in a row, Hansi Flick’s team finally seem to have overcome their crisis in La Liga. The convincing 7-1 win over Valencia was followed by a “three” against Alaves last week. Thanks to Real’s slip-up, the league title is now back within reach. They are just four points off top spot. A win for Barcelona in Seville, should the result in the Madrid derby go the right way, could reduce that gap even further.

The next spectacle is sure to follow

The 5-0 cup win over Valencia during the week was the fifth win in the last eight games in which Lewandowski and Co. scored five or more goals. It was 4-0 at half-time, which proves just how powerfully and tenaciously FC Barcelona’s players are currently performing. We can also expect the Catalans to win the first half against Sevilla.

It is striking that “Barca” is not only dependent on its superstars such as the Polish top scorer of La Liga, Raphinha or Lamine Yamal. Against the “bats”, the previously much-criticized Ferran Torres shot a triple pack to get rid of his frustration. But another player also played himself into the spotlight again.

A change that backfired

In contrast to the league clash two weeks ago, Fermin Lopez didn’t manage four “scorer points” on Thursday but “only” one goal, but the 21-year-old still showed glimpses of his class on several occasions. The attacking midfielder, who has been a permanent member of the Catalan first team since last season, has already proven time and again how important he can be for his team.

And yet he shouldn’t have been playing for Barcelona at all. In 2023, the club was on the verge of selling him to Poland for just 600,000 euros due to a lack of sporting prospects. It was only a change of coach at the prospective club that prevented the deal from going through and Lopez staying.

While the Poles missed out on a huge talent, Hansi Flick can now look forward to an important addition to his team, who will certainly also be fielded against the Andalusians. As mentioned at the beginning, a simple tip on the guest is hardly worthwhile in the game Sevilla against Barcelona, for which the bookmakers’ prediction predicts an away win.

Provisional line-up for Barcelona:

Sevilla – Barcelona head to head / H2H record:

As already mentioned, Sevilla’s last league win against the great FC Barcelona was almost ten years ago. Historically, the Andalusians have mostly lost out to the Catalans. Only 41 of the 183 head-to-head duels have been won by the “Sevillistas”, while “Blaugrana” have celebrated over 104 successes. 38 times the two teams have drawn.

Sevilla – Barcelona betting tip

At Sevilla vs. Barcelona, the bookmakers’ odds naturally see the guest as the clear favorite. A tip on Hansi Flick’s team can still be worthwhile with a handicap or a bet on the first 45 minutes.

Since the Catalans have by far the best offense in La Liga and have scored at least five of their own goals in five of their last eight games, a bet on many goals is also an option in the match between Sevilla and Barcelona.