Barcelona play host to Sevilla at Camp Nou on Saturday evening looking to extend their unbeaten record in La Liga to 11 matches.
Sevilla make the trip to the Catalan giants sitting in fifth place in the standings, but Eduardo Berizzo's side appear to have turned a corner after registering three wins in a row in all competitions.
Barcelona
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Despite sitting at the top of the table, Barcelona are still searching for their best form under Ernesto Valverde, but there may come a point when the 53-year-old's style of football features lower down on the club's list of priorities.
Goals are not being scored at the same frequency as under Luis Enrique, but Barca are slowly turning in a juggernaut capable of churning out results with the club having avoided defeat in their last 15 games in all competitions.
The goalless draw at Olympiacos in the Champions League will be considered a blip, but it extended a period where Barca have conceded just four goals since August 20 and as it stands, Valverde's side are seen as top dogs in Spain.
A lead of eight points has been established over Real Madrid - who continue to underperform on both the domestic and European stage - and Barca have an opportunity to at least maintain that advantage before the rivals meet at the Bernabeu on December 19.
Lionel Messi's contribution has dropped off since the last international break, with two goals and two assists coming from five outings, but that has seen other members of the squad make a contribution.
That said, Valverde will be eager for an improvement from Luis Suarez, who has not netted in his last four appearances and has scored just three goals in 11 outings this season.
Recent form: WWWDWW
Recent form (all competitions): DWWWWD
Sevilla
© SilverHub
Either side of the international break, Sevilla suffered four defeats in six matches in all competitions and there was every suggestion that Berizzo's men may struggle to keep pace in their bid for a top-four place.
However, three wins in a row - albeit just one in La Liga - has lifted the mood at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan and there is at least some belief within the club's ranks ahead of one of football's biggest tests.
Scorelines of 2-1 against Leganes and Spartak Moscow are far from convincing, but Berizzo will take the positives from being able to close out two tight matches on the spin at a time when nine goals had previously been shipped on trips to Russia and Valencia.
Finding a regular goalscorer remains a problem, with no player scoring more than two goals in La Liga this season, but Berizzo will hope that Wissam Ben Yedder's effort against Leganes last weekend will be the start of a run for the Frenchman.
However, Sevilla have lost each of their last four important fixtures away from home, with their only success coming against minnows Cartagena in the Copa del Rey.
Aside from that win, only one goal has been scored in away trips to Atletico Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, Spartak Moscow and Valencia, so improvements will need to be made if the visitors are going to return to Seville with a positive result.
Recent form: WLWLLW
Recent form (all competitions): LLLWWW
Team News
© SilverHub
Valverde will be without both Sergi Roberto and Andre Gomes at the weekend after the pair sustained injuries against Olympiacos.
Roberto has been ruled out until December with a hamstring problem, while Gomes will not be available until the end of the month due to a thigh injury.
Gerard Deulofeu and Denis Suarez are likely to feature in their place, while Lucas Digne is in contention for a recall in defence.
Berizzo has a decision to make regarding his goalkeeper, with Sergio Rico and David Soria both been handed game time in recent weeks.
Jesus Navas may have to start another fixture on the bench after only being named as a replacement for Sevilla's recent wins.
Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Ter Stegen; Alba, Umtiti, Semedo, Mascherano; Busquets, Paulinho, Suarez; Deulofeu, Suarez, Messi
Sevilla possible starting lineup:
Rico; Kjaer, Lenglet, Escudero, Mercado; Nzonzi, Banega, Pizarro; Sarabia, Nolito, Yedder
Head To Head
Sevilla have spent the past five years being regarded as one of the top teams in Spain - outside of Barcelona and Real Madrid - but Los Rojiblancos hold a dismal recent record against Saturday's opponents.
In five years and 15 matches in all competitions, Sevilla have emerged victorious on just one occasion - at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in October 2015 - with 11 defeats being suffered during that period.
Sevilla have also lost their last five league games at Camp Nou, conceding 17 goals in the process, and you have to go all the way back to 2002 for the club's last league win at the iconic stadium.
We say: Barcelona 3-0 Sevilla
Sevilla may have improved of late, but we still do not think that they will be much of a match for Barca. Valverde's men have not exactly been in fantastic form but after failing to score in midweek, expect a response at the weekend.
Darren Plant
