Barcelona vs. Sevilla: How La Blaugrana Should Line Up in Liga Game

Barcelona vs. Sevilla is a mouth-watering prospect as La Liga action returns after yet another international break. Second plays fifth in a game which has certain implications for either side.

If results elsewhere also go well for the visitors, then they could be leaving Camp Nou having leapfrogged their hosts into second place, or else Barca can pull clear of the teams immediately below them and stay with the pace being set by Real Madrid.

After a seven-game spell from the start of the season where the Catalans didn't concede in the league, you might have expected them to approach this game with the confidence that such a run of results would bring.

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Messi will now attempt to break Telmo Zarra's record on 22 November when Barcelona face Sevilla at the Camp Nou

— MESSISTATS (@MessiStats) November 8, 2014"

However, successive defeats at Real and, more worryingly, at home to Celta Vigo, sees Barca come into the game perhaps a little more cautious than they otherwise would've been.

Certainly they'll have their work cut out against a flourishing Sevilla side being expertly marshaled by Unai Emery. There is no doubt that this game provides Emery with his best chance of getting a first win as a manager against Barca, a poor run stretching back over many years.

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Only two losses in the last 19 games in all competitions, per Sevilla" target="_blank">WhoScored.com, is a magnificent return and follows on from the excellent form of the last campaign during which they won the Europa League.

Captaining them that day was Ivan Rakitic, who lines up in opposition to his old employers for the first time since departing from the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

In one of those strange quirks that only football seems to throw up, on-loan Denis Suarez and Gerard Deulofeu return home, hoping to show Luis Enrique what he's missing.

In the latter's case, one can feel a little sorry, given how he was paraded alongside Rafinha Alcantara over the summer. The "homecoming" turned out to be anything but as Enrique obviously decided that Deulofeu's work ethic wasn't quite what he was looking for.

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— fansofbarca (@fanzofbarca) November 14, 2014"

Now the youngster has been ripping it up in Andalusia and has already become a crowd favourite.

If the status quo continues, you would imagine that Emery and the power-brokers at the club will go all out to secure his services permanently, or at the very least for another year on-loan.

Claudio Bravo will start for the Catalans between the sticks as ever. With speed merchants on either flank for the visitors, both Dani Alves and Jordi Alba will need to be at their very best.

Don't be surprised to see Gerard Pique benched yet again as Lucho continues to put a marker down to anyone who isn't fully focused on the job in hand.

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Javier Mascherano should be tasked with keeping the bull-like Carlos Bacca in check, with the physical presence of Jeremy Mathieu alongside.

Sergio Busquets needs a rest but is still likely to be called upon, whilst Rakitic will be champing at the bit to play. If Andres Iniesta is back fit again, the midfield picks itself.

Should this game come just too early for "El Illusionista," then expect Enrique to stick with youth and allow Alcantara to spread his wings further.

The front three need no introduction.

Quite how anyone is going to take the places of Luis Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi unless any of the trio are injured is an interesting discussion point.

The attackers will have to be at their very best to make in-roads however, and will have their work cut out for the duration.

Sevilla's Alejandro Arribas was man of the match in Sevilla's last game against Levante and will provide fierce resistance at the back, whilst Ever Banega will be snapping at heels and making midfield mischief throughout in what promises to be an absolute cracker.