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Sevilla - Facts and Stats from the home side
The Andalusian club has managed to take a Champions League place in the top four with 60 points, placed ahead of 5th place Mallorca who have 59 points. Sevilla have proved to be a difficult side this season, although they have also shown a lot of struggle in their league campaign.
Sevilla only have 18 wins in 36 league games which include 6 draws and 12 losses. Their home record looks acceptable, having triumphed 14 times at home, drawn once, and lost thrice. It is thus away from home that their tests weaken them, as they can only boast of 3 wins in their name, and 7 draws as well as 8 defeats.
Luckily, their game this weekend will be decided at home against La Liga leaders Barcelona, and Sevilla can look ahead to retaining their recent good shape so as to keep their opportunities of playing in the Champions League next season. Nevertheless, results popping-out of their last matches show what could be referred to as inconsistency, in view of the fact that they have snatched 9 points over their last 15 possible due to 2 stoppable failures.
Last 5 games
Apr 13: Valladolid 2-1 Sevilla
Apr 17: Sevilla 3-0 Sporting Gijon
Apr 25: Getafe 4-3 Sevilla
May 02: Sevilla 3-1 Atletico Madrid
May 05: Racing Santander 1-5 Sevilla
Barcelona – Facts and Stats from the away side
La Liga title holders are still under the pressure of Real Madrid who look hungry enough to eat up all 6 remaining possible points in the Spanish First Division. With only one point separating them from Los Blancos, Barcelona have no right to relax. Conversely, they can only continue the battle and pour out their blood for at least 180 more minutes.
Barcelona will be packing their bags to travel to the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, but the Blaugrana could face a negative surprise, seeing that their away record only seems to be as positive as it is mainly because of excessive determination. The league favorites have won 12 games away from home, drawn 5, and lost 1. Their defeat came on February 14, when they suffered a setback in Madrid following a powerless starting line-up from Manager Pep Guardiola.
On this occasion, the Catalans will not be presented any choice. The only obligation which they will have to follow will be to answer the cries of their Madrid-fearing fans by getting closer to the title, using a win. Barcelona have stolen 4 wins out of their last 5 challenges, and below is the list of their results in their last 450 minutes on the pitch in La Liga:
Apr 14: Barcelona 3-0 Deportivo La Coruña
Apr 17: Espanyol 0-0 Barcelona
Apr 24: Barcelona 3-1 Xerez
May 1: Villarreal 1-4 Barcelona
May 4: Barcelona 4-1 Tenerife
Palop vs Lionel Messi
Sevilla goalkeeper and Barcelona ace Lionel Messi will face each for the eighth time in the Primera Division, but the fact that Leo has been able to score 7 times against the goalie is evident enough for fans to consider Little Messi as one of Palop’s biggest opponents, in terms of individual display. Messi got his first goal against Palop on October 15, 2006, when he scored Barcelona's third goal against Sevilla in the 80th minute as the Catalans triumphed 3-1 at the Camp Nou. He then scored 2 more goals on September 22 the year after in a 2-1 victory over Sevilla, with both goals scored within 6 minutes.
In 2008, on November 29, Messi again clinched a double in a 3-0 win against Manuel Jimenez’s club. He did not fail to exhibit his goalscoring skills on the 16th of January this year, when he placed two goals past Palop in La Liga to help Barcelona enter the winter break as La Liga leaders thanks to a 4-0 win.
Messi however could not score in the Copa del Rey against Sevilla, and after a 2-2 loss on away goals, Barcelona suffered their first competition exit for the first time since the departure of ex-coach Frank Rijkaard. On Saturday, Palop and Messi fight each other again, and the winner between the two men will surely emerge from the winning team.
Sevilla vs Barcelona – Head To Head
In their 5 last La Liga meetings, Barcelona have never lost a game against Sevilla. The title holders have won 4 of their last games against the Andalusians, and drawn one. The highest number of goals they have scored against Sevilla is 4, while they have made 3 clean sheets, since September 22, 2007.
22 Sep, 2007: Barcelona 2-1 Sevilla
09 Feb, 2008: Sevilla 1-1 Barcelona
22 Nov, 2008: Sevilla 0-3 Barcelona
22 Apr, 2009: Barcelona 4-0 Sevilla
16 Jan, 2010: Barcelona 4-0 Sevilla
La Liga Standings (Top 5) – May 07, 2010
Barcelona – 93 points
Real Madrid – 92 points
Valencia – 68 points
Sevilla – 60 points
Mallorca – 59 points
A loss or a draw for Barcelona might end their titles hopes if Real Madrid take their chances till the end of Day 38, but on the side of Sevilla, a loss or even a draw might also end their hopes of playing in the UEFA Champions League next season.
