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DEFY THE STATISTICS ON BARCELONA SOIL

04/11/2017

Despite a difficult challenge, regained solidity gives Sevilla a chance to fight for points against an unbeaten Barcelona who have started to see cracks in their game

Another La Liga classic - FC Barclona vs Sevilla FC - rears its head for the first time this year in what has historically been one of Sevilla's most difficult fixtures in domestic competition. An undoubtedly arduous task to shock los culés at the Camp Nou, but despite Barca's unbeaten run - 18 goals in five successive league wins at home - fleeting doubts have crept into their game and the league leaders have conceded six this season. Nonetheless, in the ten matches Valverde's side have played, they have picked up nine wins and just one draw - away against Simeone's Atlético Madrid.

An unquestionable streak for Barcelona so far but one that has to end at some point, as other teams are proving this season. Sevilla will need to compete with all of their pride and character, fighting for victory and defending their badge with every sinew. Once the match is over, the Nervionenses will want to leave with their heads held high, safe in the knowledge they left everything on the field.

A match to re-establish solidity against a side who will look to do everything through Messi

This Saturday's clash in the Camp Nou will be the first away visit for Berizzo's Sevilla after redeeming three successive losses with more recognisable performances in the Copa del Rey, La Liga and the Champions League. The clash comes at a time when Sevilla will be looking to re-establish familiar solidity. They will have to do so against a team who wins for fun but has started to show small cracks in their game and has been less convincing in latest outings.

This year more than ever, the Catalonian side is all about Leo Messi, who is carrying the team's weight squarely on his shoulders. Ter Stegen is the only other player to have played every minute of all ten of Barcelona's matches. He's picked up 12 goals in the league (with four assists from Jordi Alba), where his teammates have picked up just one more combined. The Argentinian talisman also boasts three assists, as well as eight shots against the woodwork.

Messi carries the weight; he's the only outfield player to have played 10 full matches - scoring 12 goals and hitting the post 8 times in the process

In the 30 matches he has played against Sevilla FC, the Argentine has scored 29 goals. The stats may be impressive but every game has its own story and football demands new effort and new complications each time around. Messi will have to come out well against a side who will be well aware of the danger he poses. Berizzo's record against FC Barcelona, meanwhile, does not make for bad reading at all. In six games he has won three - the first coincidentally coming at the Nou Camp three years ago in November.

Caparrós' Sevilla of 2002 won 0-3 on Barcelona soil. Berizzo has picked up three wins against los culés

Sevilla FC have not won on Barcelona's turf for 15 years, when Joaquín Caparrós' side beat los culés 0-3 in 2002 (goals from Toedtli and Casquero). In 2003, Sevilla picked up a point (1-1) with an opener from Reyes and an equaliser from Ronaldinho. Since then, barring the 2011 0-0 draw in the Camp Nou, the Nervionenses have suffered 12 losses, the latest being a 3-0 defeat under Sampaoli. A bitter run on Barcelona soil that will only spur the Sevillistas to defy the statistics. In order to do so, the team will need pride, determination, commitment and all their skill. Should they believe in themselves and put their best foot forward, an historic win will not be out of reach.