Barcelona Sevilla prediction 2024-10-20

Barcelona vs Sevilla prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2024-10-19 19:00.
[p]A Robert Lewandowski hat-trick allowed Barcelona to sweep aside Alavés 3-0 in their last game before the international break, as they bounced back from a shock 4-2 loss to Osasuna in round eight that halted a seven-match winning start to this La Liga campaign. Hansi Flick will likely be relying heavily on Lewandowski for goals here as well, as both Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres are set to be out of action this weekend due to injury. [/p]

[p]Playing Sevilla will perhaps not be that taxing given their recent historical record in these matches, as Barcelona are unbeaten in 17 top-flight H2Hs (W13, D4), their longest-ever such run in this fixture. They have also won all three of their home league games this season, conceding just once in the process, while the Catalans will again look to start brightly, as each of those three encounters saw them score the opener inside half an hour.[/p]

[p]Sevilla, however, went into the break with seven points from their last three games (W2, D1), with all three matches featuring a red card for the hosts on the day. Due to those improved results, the Andalusians have not just revived their season that had produced only one win across their first six league outings in 2024/25 (D2, L3), but they have also managed to move within three points of the top five after seven rounds.[/p]

[p]The challenge now is to replicate that form away from home, as the visitors are yet to taste victory on the road this term (D3, L1). That puts current head coach García Pimienta, a former Barcelona youth coach, in danger of equalling the record of Unai Emery, who was the last Sevilla boss to fail to win their first five top-flight trips in charge.[/p]

[p]Players to watch: Raphinha scored a brace from the penalty spot in his last game on international duty and netted Barcelona’s winner in a 1-0 victory in La Liga at this venue last season when Pimienta visited as coach of Las Palmas. Dodi Lukébakio had a relatively quieter break, playing just over 30 minutes for Belgium, and could take his time to influence proceedings here as his last three away goals all arrived after the 80th minute.[/p]

[p]Hot stat: Barcelona have scored first in their last nine home league games, winning all those matches. [/p]

[p][i]Written by Sridhar B[/i][/p]