LALIGA
Barcelona vs Sevilla: will Sergio Ramos play against his old rivals?
The experienced Sevilla centre-back has faced Barcelona 47 times in his professional career.
Barcelona take on Sevilla in LaLiga on Friday as they look to return to the top of the table ahead of their rival’s fixtures this weekend. Sevilla sit in 12th place going into the fixture, one that Sergio Ramos knows all too well. The experienced Sevilla centre-back will take on Barcelona in what will be his 48th duel against the Blaugrana, the team he has played against the most times in his glittering career. Of those 48 encounters, 15 have ended in victory for Ramos.
Ramos with Real Madrid
A little over three years ago, Real Madrid visited Camp Nou on matchday seven of the season. The score was level at 1-1 until just past the hour mark when Ramos went down in the box and claimed a penalty. Referee Martínez Munuera went to the VAR screen, observed a grab by Clément Lenglet and ended up awarding the penalty. Ramos, as usual, took the ball and with a low right-footed shot, put Madrid ahead in the game and they ended up taking all three points.
Mendilibar leaves Ramos out
It was his last game against Barcelona, until tonight, when he aims to return to the starting line-up after two games without playing (against Osasuna and Almería). According to Sevilla’s Basque coach José Luis Mendilibar, it was just a simple rotation, to which must be added Ramos’ concern about the robbery he suffered at his home with his children inside while he was playing at the Sánchez Pizjuán against Lens in the Champions League.
Ramos looking for defensive stability
“It wouldn’t be bad if my first goal after my return was against Barcelona, but I’m not worried about scoring. I prefer for the team to have a good defensive shape, to keep a clean sheet and be solid at the back,” Ramos told the media ahead of the clash, where he was full of praise for Barcelona: “They are favourites for everything, in LaLiga and in the Champions League, and that makes a win against them an emotional bonus. They’re quick on the wings and it’s going to be a good game.”
Eighteen years ago, alongside another Sevilla youth team player, Pablo Ruiz, Ramos played his first game against Barcelona. It was there that he began his footballing journey. Today, he has the chance to add another chapter to that story when Barcelona host Sevilla.