Barcelona Faces Sevilla in La Liga Showdown
Barcelona’s perfect start to La Liga faces one of its sternest tests tonight at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, where Sevilla wait with questions to answer and a point to prove.
Flick’s Barça roll into Seville
Six games, six wins, 18 points. Barcelona arrive in Andalusia purring, their early-season form driven by sharp attacking play and a growing sense that Hansi Flick’s ideas are landing quickly in the dressing room.
The German coach still kept one card close to his chest on the eve of the match: the goalkeeping spot. With Joan Garcia ruled out by a right-knee injury, 36-year-old Wojciech Szczesny is in line to start. Flick refused to give outright confirmation, but his words after Wednesday’s win over Racing Santander strongly hinted the veteran Pole will pull on the gloves tonight.
The trip to Sevilla also brings rotation. Flick has not hidden it; he has embraced it. As reported by “Mundo Deportivo” and underlined in his press conference, he plans several changes to the XI, and one name is already ring-fenced: Cubarsi. The young defender has been told he starts.
Big calls across the pitch
The shake-up will not stop there. Marc Casado, Fermin Lopez and Anthony Gordon, all rested in midweek, are expected to return to the line-up and inject fresh legs into a side that has been relentless so far.
That likely spells a step back for some of Wednesday’s starters. Joao Cancelo, Dani Olmo and Karim Adeyemi are set to drop to the bench, where they will be joined by Egyptian forward Hamza Abdelkarim, giving Flick serious firepower in reserve if the game tightens.
Certain pillars of this new-look Barça remain untouchable. Eric Garcia, Rodri, Pedri, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha are firmly established as first-choice options and are expected to start again. Cubarsi’s partner in central defence is the main unresolved issue, with Gerard Martin and Christensen locked in a straight fight for one spot.
For now, the projected XI reads like this: Szczesny; Eric Garcia, Cubarsi, Gerard Martin, Espart; Rodri, Pedri; Lamine Yamal, Fermin Lopez, Anthony Gordon; Raphinha. On paper, it is an aggressive setup, heavy on creativity in the half-spaces and pace out wide.
Sevilla’s selection puzzle
Sevilla come into the clash carrying their own injury concerns. Belgian striker Lucas Stassin misses out with a muscle problem, while Ruben Vargas also remains sidelined. Two attacking absences that trim their options at the top end of the pitch.
There is some relief at the back. Senegalese defender Aroura Sangante has shaken off an ankle sprain and is ready to return, a timely boost against one of Europe’s most fluid forward lines. Central defender Kike Salas is also available, despite taking a knock to his right leg in the Riazor clash and sitting out Thursday’s training session.
So Barcelona arrive perfect, confident and rotating. Sevilla arrive bruised but reinforced in defence. In a stadium that rarely grants easy nights, something has to give.
