Sevilla and Barcelona make a combined 10 changes for tonight’s La Liga encounter at the Sanchez Pizjuan, which kicks off at 19:00 BST.
First up are the Catalans, who welcome back Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba and Jeremy Mathieu into their defence, the trio having missed the side’s 4-0 victory over Almeria midweek.
Further up the pitch, Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta are preferred to Sergi Roberto and Xavi Hernandez, with former Sevilla favourite Ivan Rakitic the only midfield survivor.
Neymar is also back for Barca after being rested against Almeria midweek, arguably with a point to prove, despite Luis Enrique’s denials at his pre-match Press conference.
Sevilla, on the other hand, make four changes from the team who beat Levante 2-1 as Coke, Aleix Vidal, Ever Banega and Carlos Bacca are all reinstated. Barca loanee Denis Suarez is also named as a substitute.
The three points will be highly coveted at both ends as Barca need them to restore their four-point cushion atop the table, while the hosts can temporarily overtake Valencia in the top four with a win.
Lionel Messi became La Liga’s all-time top goalscorer in the two teams’ first meeting of the season last November, scoring a hat-trick in a 5-1 home victory for La Blaugrana.
Sevilla: Rico; Coke, Parejo, Carrico, Tremoulinas; Krychowiak, Banega; Vidal, Iborra, Vitolo; Bacca
Subs: Soria, Figueiras, Fernando, Mbia, Denis Suarez, Gameiro, Reyes
Barcelona: Bravo, Alves, Pique, Mathieu, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta; Messi, Luis Suarez, Neymar
Subs: Ter Stegen, Bartra, Adriano, Xavi, Mascherano, Rafinha, Pedro
Referee: Martinez Munuera
