FC Barcelona are without new stars Alexis Sanchez and Cesc Fabregas, but will be favored at home against Sevilla when the Rojiblancos travel to the Camp Nou on Saturday evening. All of Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez, David Villa, Andres Iniesta and Pedro Rodriguez are healthy and in great goal scoring and creating form.
Barcelona Vs. Sevilla, 2011 Spanish La Liga Week 8 Matchup: No Alexi? No Cesc? No Problem
Sevilla travels to the Camp Nou to face Barcelona on Saturday, where both teams will put their undefeated records on the line
The Blaugranas are without Girard Pique, however, and will have a decision to make in the back. More likely than not, Javier Mascherano will partner Carles Puyol in the back of a 4-3-3 formation. However, if Pep Guardiola believes that Sevilla are going to go to a 4-4-2, he might be better served playing the 3-4-3 that absolutely dominated Villarreal's 4-4-2 setup on the first week of the season.
However, this is a new Sevilla, and they have favored a setup with five in the midfield for most of the season. The team has added Ivan Rakitic, Gary Medel and Piotr Trachowski in the last calendar year, giving them better personnel to match up with Los Cules in the center of the pitch.
Both teams are undefeated in La Liga thus far, and Sevilla can get a big leg-up on their competition for Champions League places if they can somehow manage to just nick a point at the Camp Nou.
Barcelona vs. Sevilla
Game Date/Time: Saturday, October 22, 4:00 pm ET (10:00 pm local)
Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
TV: Sky Sports 4 (UK), GolTV (USA and Canada)
For more on the Blaugranas, check out Barcelona blog Barca Blaugranes. We'll have live coverage of this match and all of the other La Liga action, including Real Madrid-Malaga, in our La Liga Week 8 StoryStream. For more on the entire world of footy, head over to SB Nation Soccer.
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