Barcelona, currently top of the table, will be looking to maintain their flawless league record at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, where a completely transformed Sevilla side under Matías Almeyda awaits. The Catalans sit atop the table with 19 points from seven games, having conceded only one draw and leading the standings by just one point ahead of Real Madrid. Meanwhile, the Andalusians are enjoying their best start to the season since the Lopetegui era, sitting in 9th place with 10 points. Three consecutive away wins against Girona, Alavés, and most recently Rayo Vallecano demonstrate new strength under the Argentine, even if home games continue to cause problems. The spectacular 1-0 win in Vallecas thanks to a late goal from Adams highlighted Almeyda’s pragmatic approach. The head-to-head record is overshadowed by Barcelona’s overwhelming dominance: the last five meetings have all ended in victories for the Blaugrana, most recently a 4-1 win in February. Sevilla have always conceded goals in the second half and have never taken the lead, even though most of the first halves have been evenly matched. However, Barcelona will be without key attacking players: Lamine Yamal is out with a groin problem, while Raphinha and Fermín López will return later. Sevilla will be without Januzaj due to an ankle problem. The bookmakers see the visitors as clear favorites, although Sevilla’s impressive away record could lead to surprises.
- Venue: Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville
- Date and time: October 5, 2025, 4:15 p.m.
- Competition: Primera División (Matchday 8)
While bookmakers clearly favor Barcelona with odds of around 1.6, our assessment highlights several aspects that could make for a much more exciting game. The “both teams to score” tip benefits from Barcelona’s impressive scoring streak of 44 consecutive games and Sevilla’s perfect record in the league, where they have scored at least once in every game. Ter Stegen’s absence significantly weakens the Catalan defense, which has conceded goals in four of its last five games. Adams’ strength and Alexis’ game intelligence give Sevilla enough potential to score against the Blaugrana. The double chance “1X” looks attractive at odds of around 2.3, as it takes into account Sevilla’s home strength and Barcelona’s current personnel problems. Yamal and Raphinha’s absences hit Flick’s team in the crucial offensive, while the only three-day break after the PSG game adds additional strain. The boldest tip for a Sevilla win takes advantage of the high odds of around 5.0, which may underestimate the effect of the visitors’ injury worries. Almeyda has shown that his team will counterattack when opportunities arise, as evidenced by the late winner in Vallecas.
Sevilla Form & Record Check
The numbers speak for Matías Almeyda. With ten points from seven games, the Argentine has made Sevilla’s best start to a season since the 2021/22 campaign under Julen Lopetegui. Three consecutive away wins, most recently a 1-0 victory in Vallecas against Rayo Vallecano, show a team that is beginning to shake off its difficult past. This Sevilla side is particularly impressive away from home. The team has won all three away games: 2-0 against Girona, 2-1 at Alavés, and now at Rayo. The victory in Madrid was typical of Almeyda’s style, with only one shot on goal, but it was the decisive one. Akor Adams scored in the 87th minute to make it 1-0 after Odysseas Vlachodimos had kept a clean sheet with some strong saves. However, the home problem remains. At the Sánchez Pizjuán, there has only been one draw against Elche so far, and that is exactly where Barcelona now awaits. The defeat against Villarreal a few days ago highlighted the weaknesses at home. Almeyda vehemently defended his offensive style, pointing out that more defensive approaches had almost led the team to relegation in the past. Seventh place in the table is somewhat misleading. Athletic Club is level on points behind them, and only one point separates Sevilla from Getafe in eighth place. This tightness shows that every game could be decisive for the rest of the season.
Coach Almeyda is likely to stick with his preferred 3-4-3 formation against Barcelona. With Nianzou still injured and Januzaj also unavailable after his ankle injury, the personnel options are clear. The back three of Azpilicueta, Cardoso, and Marcão has provided stability recently. In midfield, Agoumé could start alongside Mendy again after his goal against Rayo Vallecano. Carmona and Suazo are set to start on the wings, while the trio of Alexis Sánchez, Isaac Romero, and Vargas will provide the threat up front. However, this lineup is only a prediction, as Almeyda will not announce his starting lineup until shortly before kickoff.
Barcelona Form & Record Check
Barcelona heads into the Duelo in Seville as the undisputed league leader with 19 points from seven games. The record under Hansi Flick is impressive: four wins from the last five games, always scoring and mostly dominating. Only the recent defeat against PSG (1-2) in the Champions League slightly clouds the picture. The Catalans have a flawless home record in the league, but they have recently shown nerves of steel away from home. The 1:3 win in Oviedo and the confident 2:1 win against Real Sociedad after falling behind demonstrate the mentality of this team. The team is developing into true comeback specialists: in four of their last five games, they have overturned half-time deficits or comebacks. Flick’s rotation system is working perfectly. The German continuously changes his starting eleven without compromising performance. This keeps all players alert and creates healthy competition within the squad. Even Pedri, the only player with nine starts, has been used sparingly. The personnel situation is becoming problematic for Sevilla. With Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Fermín López, three key offensive players are out. Yamal’s absence is particularly significant, as the 17-year-old can make the difference with his assists. Lewandowski and Ferran Torres will have to compensate for this gap, although both have already scored four goals this season. The defense looks more stable than last season, but conceded two avoidable goals against PSG. Szczesny between the posts provides security after ter Stegen’s prolonged absence.
Barcelona could field a significantly changed lineup in Seville. Hansi Flick will likely have to rest several key players: Lamine Yamal is out for two to three weeks after suffering a setback with his groin problems, and Raphinha is also unavailable due to a thigh injury. Despite the absences, the German coach is likely to stick with his tried-and-tested 4-2-3-1 formation. Rashford could play a central role in attack after impressing with four consecutive assists and establishing himself as the team’s most consistent assist provider. Alongside him, Dani Olmo and the young Bardghji would probably take on the creative roles, while Ferran Torres could operate as a false nine.
H2H Sevilla – Barcelona Head-to-head comparison & statistics
The recent record between Sevilla and Barcelona shows clear dominance by the Catalans. In the last five meetings since February 2023, Sevilla have failed to score a single point, while Barcelona have won all of their encounters. The Andalusians’ weakness in the second half is particularly striking. Barcelona won each of these five games after the break, while Sevilla consistently lost their decisive resistance in the last 45 minutes. This series of five consecutive defeats against their archrivals is indicative of the current balance of power. Sevilla were level at halftime in three of the last five encounters, showing that the team starts competitively but lacks the necessary consistency over 90 minutes. Barcelona, on the other hand, regularly turn up the heat in the second half. The most recent encounter in February 2025 ended in a clear 4-1 victory for Barcelona at the Sánchez Pizjuán. Barça had already triumphed 5-1 in October 2024. These results not only underline the visitors’ sporting superiority, but also their goal-scoring threat, as they have scored at least once in each of the five encounters.
