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First within the Spanish league after which within the Copa del Rey, Barcelona and Sevilla will meet twice in 5 days with every group’s hopes in each competitions on the road.
Barcelona will go to Sevilla on Saturday with the group in third place, 5 factors adrift of chief Atlético Madrid. Sevilla is an extra two factors behind in fourth, however with an additional sport to play.
A win by Barcelona would elevate it forward of second-place Actual Madrid earlier than the defending champions play Actual Sociedad on Monday. A victory by Sevilla would give the group hope of greater than only a top-four end and a Champions League berth.
On Wednesday, the groups will reunite on the Camp Nou, the place Barcelona will attempt to overturn a 2-0 loss at Sevilla within the second leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals.
Barcelona is coming off a 3-0 win over Elche on Wednesday, getting two objectives from Lionel Messi. That victory got here after the group had been crushed by Paris Saint-Germain 4-1 the Champions League and held to a disappointing 1-1 draw by Cádiz within the league.
Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman credited Messi for getting the group again on monitor along with his second-half double after a torpid efficiency from his group earlier than halftime.
“After I speak about our veteran gamers, I don’t imply Messi as a result of he retains on scoring objectives,” Koeman mentioned. “We’d like different gamers to make the distinction for us, not Messi.
“We have to finish this unhealthy patch by taking part in nicely and getting good outcomes.”
Each groups have been in good kind within the league regardless of setbacks in Europe. Barcelona is undefeated in 14 matches, whereas Sevilla has saved up a six-game successful streak regardless of a 3-2 loss to Borussia Dortmund within the Champions League final week.
With its strong protection and potent counterattack, Sevilla has had the higher hand within the two earlier conferences with Barcelona this season.
The nicely disciplined group coached by Julen Lopetegui earned a 1-1 draw at Camp Nou of their first league encounter in October. Sevilla then beat Barcelona within the Copa del Rey two weeks in the past, getting objectives from defender Jules Kounde and former Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic.
Sevilla playmaker Suso is uncertain for Saturday’s match after some ache in his hamstring saved him off form on Wednesday.
The important thing matchup is more likely to be Messi in opposition to Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. Messi has scored a league-leading 18 objectives whereas Bounou has had 5 straight shutouts within the league and anchors a protection that has conceded solely 16 objectives all season — tied for one of the best within the competitors with Atlético.
ANXIOUS ATLÉTICO
Atlético will go to Villarreal on Sunday on its worst run of the season.
The group misplaced to Chelsea 1-0 within the Champions League on Tuesday and has squandered its as soon as commanding lead within the Spanish league after just one win from its final 4 video games within the competitors.
Sixth-place Villarreal has additionally struggled not too long ago with 5 attracts and one loss in its final six league video games.
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Extra AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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