Reigning La Liga champions Barcelona will be aiming to return to winning ways on Friday evening when they welcome Sevilla to Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.

The home side, who sit third in the table on 17 points, will enter the contest off the back of a 2-2 draw with Mallorca on Tuesday, while 12th-placed Sevilla recorded a 5-1 win over Almeria on the same night.

Match preview

Barcelona entered Tuesday's clash with Mallorca off the back of a six-game winning run in all competitions, but they were ultimately forced to settle for a share of the spoils against Javier Aguirre's side.

Mallorca twice led on home soil, but Raphinha made it 1-1 late in the first period before Fermin Lopez levelled it at 2-2 in the 75th minute, with Barcelona ensuring that they remained unbeaten this season, boasting a record of five wins and two draws from their first seven games of the 2023-24 La Liga campaign.

Xavi's side are third in the table on 17 points, and they will be aiming to return to winning ways in the league ahead of their second group match in the Champions League away to Porto next week.

Barcelona have adapted impressively to life at their temporary home stadium of Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, winning all four matches in all competitions this season, although they were 2-0 down at home to Celta Vigo last weekend before managing to turn the contest around.

The Catalan side have won each of their last three league games against Sevilla, while they have not lost to Friday's opponents in Spain's top flight for eight years, which is a staggering run against a strong opponent.

Sevilla have found it difficult to get going this season, but there have been steps forward of late, and they will enter this match off the back of a four-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

Jose Luis Mendilibar's side have not lost since the 2-1 home reverse to Girona at the end of August, while they have picked up seven points from their last three league matches to rise up the table into 121th.

Sevilla will enter this game off comfortably their best performance of the season, thumping Almeria 5-1 in La Liga on Tuesday, with Youssef En-Nesyri, Dodi Lukebakio, Suso, Erik Lamela and Kike Salas on the scoresheet.

The Europa League holders are now just three points behind fifth-placed Atletico Madrid in the table, which is an indication of how quickly things can change at this stage of the season.

Los Nervionenses finished 12th in La Liga last season - their worst spot since being relegated in 1999-2000 - but they qualified for the Champions League by winning the Europa League, and they will play their second game in the group stage of the European competition away to PSV Eindhoven next week.

Team News

Barcelona will again be without the services of Pedri due to a thigh problem, but the midfielder is now close to making his return in what will be a huge boost for the team.

Frenkie de Jong, though, is facing six weeks out with the ankle injury that he suffered during the 3-2 win over Celta last weekend.

Head coach Xavi will recall Robert Lewandowski to his starting side on Friday, with the Poland international given a rest from the start against Mallorca.

Jules Kounde is also set to be brought back into the XI, with Inigo Martinez and Ferran Torres likely to be the two players to miss out, while Andreas Christensen might have to settle for a spot on the bench once again due to Ronald Araujo's return to fitness.

Sevilla, meanwhile, will be missing Oliver Torres, Marcao, Tanguy Nianzou and Alfonso Pastor, but Marcos Acuna and Mariano Diaz are back in the squad following recent issues.

The bulk of the XI that took to the field for the first whistle against Almeria last time out should keep their spots, meaning that Lucas Ocampos might have to settle for a spot on the bench once again.

Sergio Ramos and Ivan Rakitic are in line for recalls, though, with Mendilibar likely to introduce the experienced pair for the contest with the La Liga champions.

En-Nesyri started over Rafa Mir on Tuesday and found the back of the net, but the Morocco international has been ruled out late on due to injury, so the latter should come into the side here.

Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Ter Stegen; Cancelo, Araujo, Kounde, Balde; Gundogan, Romeu, Gavi; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Felix

Sevilla possible starting lineup:
Nyland; Navas, Bade, Ramos, Pedrosa; Sow, Rakitic; Suso, Lamela, Lukebakio; Mir

We say: Barcelona 2-1 Sevilla

Sevilla are more than capable of making this a difficult match for Barcelona, especially as they will enter it off the back of their best performance of the season. Xavi's side will be desperate to return to winning ways, though, and we can see the Catalan outfit navigating their way to all three points.

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