Sevilla have only conceded two goals this season, and Palop has managed to keep three consecutive clean sheets
FC Barcelona haven’t lost at the Sánchez Pizjuán since the 2007/08 season
Míchel’s team are level with Málaga and Mallorca in the standings with 11 points apiece
Barça will play a tough match this Saturday at the Sánchez Pizjuán. Tito Vilanova and his men will face Sevilla FC, a team that’s had an excellent start to the 2012/13 season. Míchel’s men have yet to lose a match in the Liga and they currently sit in European League zone of the table (fifth position).
Nearly impenetrable wall in goal
Last week it was Toño, Granada’s keeper, in between the sticks that made life almost impossible for Barça’s forwards, this Saturday an equally unflappable keeper will stand in between Barça and victory. The performance put in by Javi Varas last season at the Camp Nou hasn’t been forgotten by the Azulgranas, and this weekend, at he Sánchez Pizjuán, Barça’s strikers will face off against another seasoned and well-known Sevilla keeper, Andreu Palop. The Sevilla keeper has had a brilliant start to the season and he’s managed to keep clean sheets in his last three matches. Sevilla FC are the Spanish team that have conceded the least amount of goals this year, they’ve only allowed two in their five Liga matches.
Unbeaten in four years
Despite the always heated and excellent atmosphere at the Sánchez Pizjuán, the Sevilla fans haven’t celebrated a victory over Barça in the last four years. Since Pep Guardiola and Tito Vilanova took charge of the first team, back in 2008, the Azulgranas have always won away to Sevilla. The first Guardiola era match at the Sánchez Pizjuán ended in a 0-3. The following games at the Pizjuán ended in a 2-3 for Barça (2009/10); one-all draw in the 2010/11 season and last season’s 0-2.
Negredo on form
In addition to Palop, Barça will also have to keep an eye on Álvaro Negredo. The Sevilla forward has scored three goals so far this season and he’s always a real threat in front of goal.