Off the wire
• Roundup: Over 170 killed in major attacks in Afghanistan in Sept.  • Roundup: 10 killed in Oregon college shooting, religious intolerance suspected behind  • Macao's gaming revenue down 33 pct in Sept.  • Emerging markets to see net capital outflow in 27 years: report  • Roundup: China-Mexico ties hold great potential: envoy  • Player jailed for 1 year for breaking opponent's leg  • Indonesia refuses help offered by Singapore to deal with haze: MEWR  • Roundup: S. Korea's consumer price inflation stays at zero level for 10 months  • Backgrounder: Major school shootings in U.S. since 1999  • China's railways report record daily passenger volume  
You are here: 　 Home

Injuries as factor as Barca travel to Seville

Xinhua, October 2, 2015 Adjust font size:

Although nobody can predict how their game will end after 90 minutes on Saturday afternoon, one thing that is certain is that if we look at the injuries that have affected Sevilla and FC Barcelona, the two sides are almost on level terms.

The game which sees the two finalists of this season' s European Supercup, which ended 5-4 to Barcelona, go head to head once again, as Barca travel to Sevilla without three key players though injury.

The loss of Rahinha, Leo Messi and Andres Iniesta severely weakens Barca' s attacking power and Luis Enrique will have to either consider playing an extra man in midfield, or continuing with youngsters Munir or Sandro Ramirez in his side.

Both played well in Barca' s 2-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday, but that game made it clear that attack is not Barca' s only worry as they looked tentative in defense and sluggish in midfield, something Sevilla will look to exploit, while at the same time keeping an eye on Luis Suarez and Neymar.

Unai Emery was without nine players for his side' s Champions League defeat away to Juventus, forwards Fernando Llorente and Vitolo should be fit for Saturday, although others such as Beto, Adil Rami, Dani Carrico and playmaker, Ever Banega will still be sidelined.

Llorente will pose a potent threat to the Barca defense from set pieces and that could see either Jeremy Matheiu or Marc Bartra partner Gerard Pique in defense, while Claudio Bravo has a good chance of returning in goal after missing the start of the season through injury.

Sevilla need to take three points from their second consecutive league game at home to begin climbing away from the relegation zone, while Barca coach Luis Enrique knows that his side has struggled without Leo Messi and that questions are bound to be asked of them once again if they fail to win in the Sanchez Pizjuan. Endi