Barcelona will be aiming to stretch their winning streak to three games in all competitions when they lock horns with Sevilla at Camp Nou on Sunday. The Catalans are coming on the back of a narrow win over Inter Milan in midweek and will be full be of confidence as they look to recover, following a stuttering start to their campaign.
Here is how the Catalan may line-up against their arch-rivals in La Liga this weekend.
Formation: 4-3-3
Defence
Ernesto Valverde will be facing a selection dilemma in the defensive department, with Clement Lenglet suspended after picking up a red card against Getafe in the last league game. The Frenchman is thereby ruled out, along with compatriot Samuel Umtiti, who is nursing an injury.
That means youngster Jean-Clair Todibo might receive a rare start alongside Gerard Pique at the heart of Barcelona’s four-man backline. It will only be his third start ever after joining the Catalan outfit earlier this year.
Elsewhere, Valverde will once again have to deploy Nelson Semedo at left-back. This is because star player Jordi Alba is out injured while his deputy Junior Firpo also picked up a knock. As a result, the Portuguese international will continue to fill in at left-back.
Semedo starting on the left-hand side means Sergi Roberto will have to deputise on the opposite flank. The Spaniard did quite well against Inter, but it will be interesting to see how he copes with the tricky Sevilla attack this weekend.
Marc Andre ter Stegen, meanwhile, is a guaranteed starter in goal. The German will be looking for only his second clean sheet of the campaign.
Midfield
Valverde deployed his favoured midfield trio of Sergio Busquets, Arthur Melo and Frenkie de Jong against Inter Milan in midweek. And given the importance of this fixture, they will retain their place in the starting eleven, meaning the likes of Arturo Vidal, Ivan Rakitic and Carles Alena will once again have to settle for a spot on the bench.
Busquets was even subbed off just minutes after half-time as he made way for Vidal. The Spaniard will be key as the Catalans look to dominate the midfield this weekend.
Attack
Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez both starred in Barca’s win over Inter. And both of them will play a vital role in this fixture as the hosts look to breach a Sevilla defence that has conceded seven goals this season. Antoine Griezmann is also expected to retain his position on the left-flank, meaning the attack will completely remain unchanged.
