Sevilla examines the improvement and doubts of Barça

Major challenge that Barça has this Tuesday at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán in a postponed League match corresponding to the fourth day. Xavi’s team reaches the last game of the year with doubts after the victory ‘in extremis’ against Elche and visits one of the most complicated stadiums of the championship. Sevilla, which has added 22 of the 24 points it has played at home in the League, is an examination and a possibility of closing 2021 with good feelings and a victory that would allow the Catalans to get closer to the access positions to the League of Champions

«It is another opportunity against a direct rival, another revalidation. They are a great team and with a huge coach (Julen Lopetegui). We are going with great enthusiasm because the three points would give us a lot of morale ». This is how Xavi defined this Monday the important test that his team has ahead of him at the Sánchez Pizjuán. It is not for less. Opposite will be the second classified, a team that has won seven of the eight games that it has played in its stadium and that comes after beating nothing more and nothing less than the previous champion.

The challenge is also great for Barça because of the sensations it has left in recent games. December has been a month of contrasts in which the Catalans have fallen in the Champions League and have succumbed to rivals such as Betis, but in which they have also shown improvements in the idea of ​​the game defended by their new coach. That is precisely what Xavi clings to to achieve a vital victory. «On Saturday you saw what I want. The first part was exceptional. We are in a good dynamic. We are growing, “he said.

Barça will have to overcome once again the plague of injuries that have plagued the team since the season began. Xavi will not be able to count on Martin Braithwaite, Demir, Memphis Depay, Sergiño Dest, Ansu Fati, Pedri, Sergi Roberto and Wague, while he recovers Gerard Piqué, absent against Elche due to accumulation of cautions. All these losses condition a team that will form with an eleven similar to the one that defeated the Elche team, since it cannot include more youth from the subsidiary because it is required to have a minimum of seven first-team players on the pitch. «The other day I did not put more players from the subsidiary by the norm. It is a stupid rule that covers the progression of footballers “, he valued.

It will be a tough game for Barcelona against a Sevilla that comes at a great moment after achieving three wins in the League against important teams such as Villarreal, Athletic and Atlético de Madrid. Those from Lopetegui also arrive at the meeting with the possibility of establishing themselves in second place and reducing Real Madrid’s lead in the lead to just three points. The Nervión team is going through its best moment, but has important casualties. Acuña, Lamela, Montiel, Ocampos, Jesús Navas, En-Nesyri and Suso will not be able to be injured, which will force Lopetegui to line up an eleven in which Rafa Mir will act as stiletto and in which Papu Gómez and Rakitic, who will He will face his former team, they will be in charge of giving the last pass.

Barça visits a stadium that has been good for them in recent seasons in the league, but, of course, there was Leo Messi. The Argentine forward had a fixation with the Hispanics, a team for which he scored up to 39 goals. Nobody scored more with the Blaugrana shirt. The scoring flow of 10 against Sevilla allowed the Catalans to close the last decade with a single defeat in the domestic championship. It was in the 2015-2016 season when Barça fell with goals from Vicente Iborra and Krohn Dehli.