Barcelona vs Sevilla prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2023-02-04 20:00.
After failing to register a shot on target in the first half, Barcelona dug deep to quell the threat of Real Betis on Wednesday, securing a 2-1 victory that saw them reach 50 points for the season. The La Liga (LL) leaders could see their lead potentially cut to two by the time kick-off comes against Sevilla, but with a record of having won the title in four of the five previous occasions they’ve picked up 50+ points at this stage, Xavi’s side are “on a good path” to title success in his own words.
The win over Betis marked the first time in their entire history that Barça have won four consecutive top-flight games by a one-goal margin, highlighting their ability to fall on the right side of tight affairs. That defensive solidity has underpinned their success at home this season, with Barça conceding just one goal at Camp Nou across nine LL matches this campaign, and even that was a penalty!
After languishing around the relegation zone for much of the season, Sevilla have managed to climb into mid-table with three wins across their last four league games (L1), giving them a two-point cushion to the relegation zone after 19 matches. They could still be potentially dragged back into the red zone by the time kick-off arrives, which only adds to the weight of history as the Andalusian visitors have failed to win a LL H2H since October 2015 (D4, L10).
You’d have to go even further back to December 2002 to find Sevilla's last top-flight H2H win at this venue, highlighting that this has never been a pleasurable trip for Jorge Sampaoli’s side who have just a paltry 8% success rate here in LL! Sampaoli will at least hope his side’s ability to score goals gives them a fighting chance given Sevilla have netted in each of their last nine away league games, eight times exactly once.
Key battle: Barcelona’s Marc-André ter Stegen loves facing Sevilla having kept eight clean sheets in 17 competitive matches against them. Looking to breach his goal, Youssef En-Nesyri is fresh off a first-half double for Sevilla in their last match.
Hot stat: There has been exactly one first-half goal in five of Sevilla’s last six away LL games.