Nigerian striker Akor Adams believes Sevilla can cause problems for Barcelona when the two teams meet in their latest La Liga clash this weekend, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Sevilla forward travels to Barcelona knowing the scale of the challenge ahead. The Andalusian club have not won a league game at Camp Nou for more than two decades, a run that stretches back 23 years. Despite that daunting record, Adams insists football always offers the chance to change history.
The Nigerian striker already played a role in Sevilla’s success against Barcelona earlier this season. He came off the bench and scored when Sevilla secured a memorable 4-1 victory in October in front of their home fans at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium. Replicating that result away from home, however, will be a far more difficult task.
Speaking to Marca ahead of the match, Adams admitted that Barcelona’s quality is clear but stressed that Sevilla are preparing with belief.
When asked how Sevilla could beat the league leaders, Adams said:
“We're continuing to train and prepare. Yes, they're the league leaders and have an incredible group of players. But we're going there knowing what can happen in a match: you can win, lose, or draw. Right now, we're working hard to see how we can compete and give our best. We'll see what happens.”
The striker also acknowledged Sevilla’s poor record at Camp Nou but remained optimistic about the opportunity to rewrite history.
“Yes, but the great thing about football is that you have the opportunity to make history in every match.”
Match preview: Barcelona aim to stay top while Sevilla chase upset
The match arrives at an important moment in the season for both sides. Barcelona, managed by Hansi Flick, currently sit at the top of the La Liga table, four points ahead of rivals Real Madrid. A victory on Sunday would strengthen their position in the title race.
Barcelona head into the game after a 1-1 draw against Newcastle United in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 tie at St James’ Park. Although the performance was not at their best, the Catalan side remain well placed to finish the job in the second leg at home.
Domestically, Barcelona have been strong. After suffering a surprise defeat to Girona FC in February, they bounced back with wins against Levante UD, Villarreal CF and Athletic Bilbao.
Sevilla, meanwhile, are trying to climb away from the lower half of the table. Under coach Matias Almeyda, they sit 14th with 31 points, six clear of the relegation zone. The team has shown resilience recently, losing just one of their last eight league matches.
Their last two games ended in draws against Real Betis and Rayo Vallecano, and they will hope that steady form can help them compete against the league leaders.
Barcelona will receive a boost with young star Lamine Yamal and defender Eric Garcia returning to training before the match. However, injuries mean several key players remain unavailable, including Andreas Christensen, Jules Kounde, Alejandro Balde and Frenkie de Jong.
Sevilla also have injury concerns, with Peque Fernandez and Marcao ruled out. There are also late fitness checks for Ruben Vargas and Neal Maupay.
History strongly favours Barcelona in this fixture. Sevilla have not won a league game at Camp Nou since 2002 and have not beaten Barcelona away from home since a Copa del Rey match in 2010. Barcelona have also won seven of the last eight meetings between the teams.
Still, with Adams leading the line and Sevilla determined to continue their recent improvement, Sunday’s match offers another chance for the visitors to attempt something special against the league leaders.
