But Sevilla are no mugs. They are the back-to-back Europa League holders remember, and are currently fifth in the Spanish top-flight. Unai Emery's men are tough, physical, organised and look difficult for Barca to break down.

We've seen this all before though haven't we? If I was having a flutter now I'd still be going for a 3-1 home win...

Italian Serie A

Yep, we're ready! And so is tonight's referee in Turin. He gets the match under way, slightly behind schedule....

The frame of the Sevilla goal is still shaking. Barcelona crunch the woodwork twice in about five seconds. Sevilla keeper Sergio Rico palms Lionel Messi's corner onto his near post, before the ball breaks to Luis Suarez who lashes one against the bar from about 15 yards.

Still goalless. Just...

Image source, AP

Italian Serie A

Spanish La Liga

Another corner for Sevilla....and they create a great chance! A cross from the left is headed back into the mixer from the far post , landing at the feet of French centre-back Timothee Kolodziejczak. But he is slightly off-balance and only unable to sky high over the Barca crossbar.

If only that had fell to Kevin Gameiro. Or probably any other Sevilla player than Kolo...

Italian Serie A

Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini: "Games against Juventus are always special. They've won the league four years in a row whereas we've come on a lot as a team in the last two seasons and we'll keep getting better.

“However important this match is, I don't think you can call it a decisive one, as there are still so much left to play for.”

Image source, EPA

Italian Serie A

Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri: “Inter are still in the hunt for third place and there’s still all to play for in the league. 

"It’s not just a two-horse race between Juventus and Napoli. Roma are eight points off us, Fiorentina six, Napoli just one and with 12 games to play, there’s still a lot to be decided.”

Image source, AP

Spanish La Liga

Sevilla aren't afraid of Barcelona. And why should they be when they know first hand that Barcelona can be beaten.

Attacking midfielder Vitolo scampers forward from the halfway line, but is unable to sneak his throughball into the feet of top scorer Kevin Gameiro.

The visitors win a corner but Barca clear.

A few months ago it looked like this game would be title contenders against a side not in the running for the Scudetto - and you'd be right, but not the way you'd have expected.

Roberto Mancini's Inter were top at Christmas and looked in a good position to win a first title since Jose Mourinho's 2009-10 crown. But three wins in their nine games in 2016 and they are 10 points off top.

Juventus - who were in the bottom half in October - won 15 Serie A games in a row, before drawing their last game with Bologna. They are one point clear of second-placed Napoli.

Italian Serie A

Time to quickly whizz over the Mediterranean  Sea to Italy. Because there is little under 10 minutes until Italian leaders Juventus try to extend their advantage by beating fifth-placed Inter Milan...

Barcelona straight into their stride, knocking the ball around, building from the back. But Sevilla win the ball back when Luis Suarez is penalised for a foul near the left corner flag. Don't worry, he didn't bite anyone or anything else equally abhorrent...

Barca are being led by Lionel Messi tonight, with Andres Iniesta taking a breather on the bench. Handshakes done, coin toss done, Sevilla's final huddle done. The home side get things started... 

The two teams are lining up in the Nou Camp tunnel, with Barca's ex-Sevilla man Ivan Rakitic reacquainting himself with his old pals. 

Barca's cheery club anthem is booming out in the famous bowl as the players walk out, while respective managers Luis Enrique and Unai Emery share a warm embrace just behind them.

Barcelona XI: Bravo, Aleix Vidal, Mathieu, Pique, Alba, Busquets, Sergi Roberto, Arda Turan, Neymar, Messi, Suarez.

Sevilla XI: Sergio Rico, Coke, Rami, Kolodziejczak, Tremoulinas, N'zonzi, Cristoforo, Vitolo, Iborra, Krohn-Dehli, Gameiro.

Is the La Liga title race over yet? No, says Luis Enrique, not that he'd say anything else.

“We’ll keep competing until there’s a champion," said the Barca gaffer. "It would be a serious error to think that we’ve got it all done. Right now we need to focus on Sevilla, who are a difficult opponent.

“We have to remember that these are three vital points for winning the title. That’s the mentality we need in every game because I don’t think our lead is big enough to do the job quite yet. It’s that kind of thinking that has won us trophies.”

Image source, EPA

Barcelona's route to a second consecutive La Liga title looks pretty straightforward.

They are five points above second-placed Atletico Madrid and nine above Real - and today's match is a game in hand on their rivals.

With their head-to-head superior to Atletico, they are as good as six points above them.

Atletico beat Real 1-0 yesterday to effectively end Zinedine Zidane's side's title chances. "If we were all at my level maybe we would be leaders," said the ever-modest Cristiano Ronaldo.

Image source, Getty Images