Revenge mission in Seville: perfect Barcelona take record-breaking start to the Pizjuán
Barcelona return to La Liga action on Saturday night knowing a win would send them into the international break top of the table — and would go some way to erasing one of the darkest nights of the Hansi Flick era. The league leaders travel to the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán to face Sevilla on Matchday 7 of the 2026-27 season, with kick-off at 9pm CET (8pm BST/WAT in the UK and Nigeria, 3pm ET / 12pm PT in the USA, 12.30am IST in India on Sunday).
A start for the history books
Following a sensational midweek win against Racing Santander, Barcelona head south as the only team with a perfect record — and in uncharted territory. Wednesday's victory set a new club record with a seventh consecutive win in all competitions to begin a season, a first in Barça's history.
It has been a spectacular start by any measure, and the attack has been unimaginably good: 28 goals in six league games alone. One more win in Seville would send the Catalans into the extended international window in great spirits.
The unfinished business in Seville
But this trip is about more than extending a streak. Last October, Sevilla thrashed Barcelona 4-1 at the Pizjuán — the only highlight of their 2025-26 campaign, which saw them fight relegation until the final day. That defeat came just three days after a painful and deflating loss to PSG's B-team in the Champions League, and the manner of the performance in Seville — a dreadful defensive display and horrible mistakes in midfield and in front of goal — made it by far the lowest point of Flick's second season in charge.
According to the preview from Barça Blaugranes, "Hansi and his troops are seriously focused on avenging that loss and playing much better in all phases." The entire team, it is stressed, needs to be better on the ball to help protect Wojciech Szczęsny, who will replace the injured Joan García in goal.
Sevilla reborn under Luis García
Sevilla will provide a tough test, as they always do against Barça at the Pizjuán, and they arrive in form themselves with four wins and just one defeat in their first six league games. New manager Luis García has brought a much more defensive-minded focus — less possession, more long balls and increased physicality — and it has worked so far.
"The football isn't exactly great to watch, but the results are good," the preview notes, and Sevilla desperately needed good news after a season spent battling the drop. Their gameplan on Saturday is pretty obvious: sit back, absorb pressure, and use the pace of their forwards on the counter with long balls.
For Barça, the response is equally clear: be strong on the ball, create and finish chances early, and manage the game well so that the Pizjuán crowd — one of the very best in Spain — has no impact on the contest.
Team news
Barcelona will be without goalkeeper Joan García, winger Roony Bardghji and midfielder Frenkie de Jong, with Szczęsny expected to step in between the posts. Sevilla have doubts over Rubén Vargas, Arouna Sangante and Lucas Stassin.
Possible lineups
Barcelona (4-3-3): Szczęsny; Koundé, Cubarsí, Martín, Espart; Fermín, Rodri, Pedri; Yamal, Raphinha, Adeyemi
Sevilla (4-2-3-1): Vlachodimos; Iglesias, López, Salas, Suazo; Agoumé, Fofana; Sierra, Guridi, Correia; Ure
Match information
- Competition/Round: 2026-27 La Liga, Matchday 7
- Date/Time: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 9pm CET (Barcelona), 8pm BST/WAT (UK & Nigeria), 3pm ET / 12pm PT (USA), 12.30am IST (India, Sunday)
- Venue: Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, Seville, Spain
- Referee: Juan Martínez Munuera
- VAR: Raúl Martín González Francés
- How to watch on TV: ESPN Deportes (USA), SuperSport (Nigeria), Movistar (Spain), among others
Prediction
Sevilla are better than the team that destroyed Barça last season, but the Catalans are also better — and hungry for revenge. Prediction: Sevilla 1-3 Barcelona.