Sevilla will be looking to claim their first Spanish Supercup since 2007 when they take on Barcelona this Sunday. Sevilla will also be out for a spot of revenge. Barcelona hammered the club 5-0 in the Copa del Rey Final in April, claiming their fourth straight cup in the process. It will be a tall task for Sevilla though. The club is a heavy underdog to the Blaugrana, who have won more Spanish Supercups than any other team.
Don't miss the Spanish Supercup from Stade Ibn Battuta in Tangier, Morocco at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, August 12, 2018. Catch every moment of the match live on ESPN News.
Spanish La Liga Betting at BookMaker.eu
Sevilla FC +453
FC Barcelona -188
Draw +347
Over/Under 3 and 3.5
Odds Analysis
Like other Supercups in different countries, the Spanish Supercup is played between the winner of the league title and the winner of the premier domestic cup. In Spanish football, that means the winner of La Liga faces the winner of the Copa del Rey. However, if a club wins both trophies, as Barcelona did last year, the team that finished runner-up in the Copa del Rey takes part in this match.
Typically, this match is not the most competitive. Clubs typically play a mix of starters and reserves for various reasons. Because this match is being played outside of Spain, we will know which players will be picked by their managers for this one well beforehand. This will also be the first time that the game is played in just one leg instead of two.
Last Meeting
When these clubs met in the Copa del Rey final last year, it was all Barcelona from beginning to end. Barca jumped on Sevilla early with a Luis Suarez goal in the 14th minute. Lionel Messi doubled the lead in the 31st minute, and then Suarez secured a brace in the 40th as the Blaugrana took a 3-0 lead into halftime. The club was in a dominant possession from that point on, and Andres Iniesta and Philippe Coutinho scored in the second half as well to put a stamp on a 5-0 win.
Key Absences
Barcelona look to be without at least some of their stars for this match. Clubs are limited to just three non-European Union players in the Spanish Supercup, and that means a couple starters will not make the trip to Morocco. Philippe Coutinho is unlikely to travel as he still doesn’t have an EU passport, and Arturo Vidal seems doubtful to join his new club as well.
Additionally, Barcelona will not have Ivan Rakitic and Samuel Umtiti available for this match. Both players participated in the World Cup Final, and both will be given a little more time off by Ernesto Valverde before Barca’s season starts in earnest. Also, Sergi Roberto will be unable to play due to suspension.
Player to Watch
There will be plenty of pressure on Sevilla’s back line to avoid a collapse this time around. That will put the focus on center back Simon Kjaer, who is coming off a solid World Cup with Denmark. He and Daniel Carrico are the leaders in defense for Sevilla, and they will look to avoid getting torn apart in this meeting.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
Even though Barcelona will be without a number of their top players, they will still have Lionel Messi and plenty of talent available. Meanwhile, Sevilla is in a bit of a pickle with the timing of this match. They are playing a home and home against Lithuanian side Zalgiris Vilnius for a spot in the Europa League playoff round, and the first leg of their tilt will take place on Thursday. That could lead to some fatigue issues, so it’s hard for me to go against Barcelona.
Spanish La Liga Odds: FC Barcelona 3, Sevilla FC 1
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