Sevilla vs Barcelona preview - Rakitic relishing Pizjuan return

Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic admits returning to Sevilla on Saturday night will be a special occasion for him.

Rakitic played over 130 games in three and a half seasons at Sevilla before joining Barcelona last summer in a deal worth around B£16million.

The Croatian has played his part in helping Barcelona build a four-point lead in the Primera Division, with four goals in 27 league appearances, and says he has to put his strong feelings for Sevilla aside at the Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium in the pursuit of title honours.

"Everything I experienced there left deep impressions," Rakitic told fcbarcelona.com.

"The city will always have a special place in my heart. I lived there for three and a half years so it'll be a very special game.

"I want to focus on my game and play well. We've got eight matches to go this season and to win this game would be pretty big."

Fifth-placed Sevilla have not lost a home game in the league - a sequence stretching back 26 matches - since Barcelona won 4-1 there in February 2014 when Lionel Messi scored twice and Alexis Sanchez and Cesc Fabregas were also on target.

Unai Emery's side are also in good form, with five consecutive wins closing the gap on the Champions League places, and their 2-1 victory at Levante on Tuesday night moved them within a point of fourth-placed Valencia.

"Every team that come to Pizjuan know how tough it is to play there, and the fans there add to that pressure," Rakitic said.

"But playing for Sevilla you also know how tough it is to play against Barca. We always had a very hard time.

"I'm going give it my all to help my team-mates and I hope we play a great game.

"I always want to win, whether I'm training or playing cards with my wife!"

Barcelona consolidated their advantage over second-placed Real Madrid in midweek by brushing aside struggling Almeria 4-0 for a sixth successive league victory.

Luis Suarez took his league goals tally for Barcelona into double figures with a brace while Messi made it 44 in all competitions with yet another sublime finish.

"Beating Barca is very difficult; they're the league leaders, but people know that whoever comes to the Sanchez Pizjuan won't have it easy," Sevilla's Portuguese player Daniel Carrico told reporters at a press conference this week.

"We will try to make life difficult for Barca, try to keep a clean sheet and hit them on the break.

"The game on Saturday is complicated but playing in front of your fans always helps a lot.

"The truth is we were not expected to be doing so well at this stage of the season but we are playing with a lot of confidence and we want to continue on the same line."

Neymar is expected to return to the Barcelona starting line-up after being dropped to the bench for the Almeria game, the Brazilian striker having scored only once in his last nine appearances, and defender Jordi Alba hopes to feature following hamstring trouble.

Sergio Busquets is available after serving a one-match ban in midweek and his return in midfield could see Javier Mascherano move into defence, with Jeremy Mathieu possibly dropping out.