Sergio Ramos looking forward to Barcelona clash: “They are favourites in La Liga and Champions League” | OneFootball

Former Real Madrid and current Sevilla defender Sergio Ramos has said that beating Barcelona on their own turf will be an emotional plus for him.

Barcelona are set to take on Sevilla at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Friday, September 29. While the match will see former Barça star, Ivan Rakitic, reuniting with some of his old teammates, the fixture will also witness the return of Ramos to a familiar territory.

Speaking ahead of the game, the Real Madrid legend, who joined Sevilla this summer after a brief stint with Paris Saint-Germain, said that playing against teams like Barcelona brings out extra motivation within the team.

“We have an extra motivation because playing against these rivals, who are the best, as happens in the Champions League, is a plus no matter how much we don’t want to,” he was quoted by Mundo Deportivo.

The 37-year-old went on to add that facing Barcelona again and the possibility of beating them “is a plus.”

Barcelona are favourites, says Ramos

The former Real Madrid captain added that his upcoming opponents are the favourites for every title this year, including La Liga and the UEFA Champions League. So if Sevilla manage to get a win, it will be an emotional bonus.

“They are favourites for everything, in La Liga and in the Champions League, and that makes a victory against them have that emotional bonus,” he explained.

Sergio Ramos is eager to face Barcelona once again. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

Sevilla have lost three of their six league games this season and have won just two. However, these two wins have come in their last three outings, meaning that they will be riding high on momentum while facing the Bluagrana, who will enter the game on the back of a 2-2 draw against Mallorca.

When asked if he would like to score a goal against Barcelona, Ramos insisted that his focus will be on maintaining solidity at the back, saying:

“I’m more concerned about the team having a good defensive line, keeping a clean sheet and being solid at the back.”

Speaking about it, the defender said Sevilla will go out and give their all even though there will be a hostile environment.

“We are going to try to go there for all of Barcelona, ​​even if it is another stadium, but they are the same players. They have verticality, they are fast on the wing and it is going to be a nice game,” he concluded.