Barcelona vs. Sevilla: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info
Barcelona and Sevilla have the most arduous of trips before they even kick off in this European Super Cup final.
UEFA in their wisdom decided that the game should be staged in Tbilisi, Georgia, a flight of some six hours from Spain.
The Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, formerly known as Boris Paichadze National Stadium is a 55,000-capacity venue and European stalwarts Dinamo Tbilisi's home ground.
TOP NEWS
Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲
'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳
Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩
Despite being so far from home for both sides, UEFA note that the tie is now sold out, and with the cheapest ticket at just €7 and the most expensive at €30, it's understandable why that is so. BarcaDay shared a photo of the arena:
A packed and vocal stadium will give this fixture the atmosphere that was so often missing at its usual venue, the 18,523-capacity Stade Louis II in Monaco.
The Catalans will be hopeful of securing the fourth trophy of the year and allow them to move on to Friday's Spanish Super Cup with their dreams of a second sextuple still alive.
Unai Emery has yet to beat Barca as a manager, and the clubs' sporting director Monchi told RAC1's Primer Toc programme (h/t Tom Conn of Inside Spanish Football):
"I’m hoping that they [Neymar and Lionel Messi] are off their game coming into the match, but against Roma, it was clear that that isn’t the case at all.
I really liked what I saw from Barca against Roma in the Gamper match, they played with the same intensity as last season.
"
If the Andalusians that were meat and drink for Barca at Camp Nou last season are the ones that turn up here, then there is only one winner.
However, the side that battled back from a 0-2 deficit at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan can upset the odds, and what better way for Emery to break his duck than in this fixture.
Date: Tuesday, August 11
Time: 7:30 p.m. BST/2:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi, Georgia
TV Info: BT Sport Europe (UK only)/Fox Sports 1 (USA only)
Live Stream: BT Sport App (UK only)/Fox Soccer 2 Go (USA only)
Form Lines
| Barcelona | Sevilla |
| W 3-0 vs. AS Roma | D 1-1 vs. AEK Athens |
| L 1-2 vs. Fiorentina | L 0-1 vs. Brighton & Hove Albion |
| D 2-2 vs. Chelsea | W 1-0 vs. Watford |
| L 1-3 vs. Manchester United | W 2-1 vs. Reims |
| W 2-1 vs. Los Angeles Galaxy | L 1-3 vs. Werder Bremen |
| W 3-1 vs. Juventus | D 1-1 vs. Alcorcon |
Predicted Formations
Luis Enrique has been dealt a huge blow on the eve of this match with the news that Neymar has mumps and will miss the match and the Spanish Super Cup games against Athletic Bilbao, per FCBarcelona.com.
The Brazilian's absence comes hot on the heels of Jordi Alba's withdrawal following a hamstring pull in the Gamper Trophy.
Although their absence won't affect Barca's 4-3-3 shape, it will give Pedro Rodriguez a chance to shine in what is expected to be his last game for the club, per Francesc Tomas of ESPN FC.
Adriano Correia could get the nod against his old club ahead of Jeremy Mathieu, as Enrique goes for pace down both channels, another ex-Sevilla man, Dani Alves, mirroring his colleague's role on the right.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen should get the nod in goal ahead of the returning Claudio Bravo, with Javier Mascherano taking up his usual spot alongside Gerard Pique.
Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta and Ivan Rakitic provide a solid and experienced midfield, with Lionel Messi and the in-form Luis Suarez completing the lineup.
Sevilla should profit from an attacking 4-2-3-1, but with Ciro Immobile still sidelined with injury, Kevin Gameiro will lead the line.
Denis Suarez, Vicente Iborra and Jose Antonio Reyes should support with a solid defensive midfield pairing of the excellent Grzegorz Krychowiak and Ever Banega.
Both Banega and Krychowiak were instrumental in getting Sevilla back into the match between the sides in April, and will be a tough nut to crack again.
With Nicolas Pareja still out until October, Adil Rami will partner Daniel Carrico at the heart of the defence, with Benoit Tremoulinas and Coke providing the width.
Custodian Sergio Rico completes the Andalusian's XI.
Player to Watch
Sevilla continue to have quality all over the pitch, thanks to Monchi's studious buying policy.
Immobile, Michael Krohn-Dehli and Konoplyanka are three well-thought-out additions to strengthen Unai Emery's squad.
However, Denis Suarez, on loan from Barca, can come of age in this one.
Suarez has enjoyed a successful spell in Andalusia, and his intelligent use of the ball will be key in bringing his team-mates into play in the danger areas.
As a player who understands the Barca style, the youngster should be adept at opening up the channels relatively quickly and by providing supplementary assistance in attack, it should give the Catalans something extra to worry about.
Key Battle
If Sevilla can limit the inevitable damage Lionel Messi will cause, then they will be somewhat on their way to achieving their aim of becoming European Super Cup champions.
But left-back Benoit Tremoulinas will have to play a lot better than in the last meeting between the sides.
The experienced Frenchman was the worst player on the pitch, and it was only his team-mates' doggedness and Barca's profligacy that saw the hosts get back in the game.
Messi showed against AS Roma that, despite his extended lay off after the Copa America, he's already in the mood.
That should spell danger for a defender who'll need all the help he can get from his centre-back, Daniel Carrico, if Messi's influence is to be kept to a minimum.
Odds
The following pre-match odds are available, per Oddschecker:
Barcelona Win: 3-10
Sevilla Win: 8-1
Draw: 9-2
