Just as it looks as if the game is settling down after that early flurry, Sevilla charge forward again. Sergi Roberto slips and gives Vitolo a chance to run at him, twisting this way and that. The Barca full-back keeps up, and makes the challenge. But it's only a temporary reprieve...

John McEnerney: I've been saying all season - and Skunk Anansie will agree - that Barcelona's back four are "Weak as I am". And I have two dodgy knees and 16-month-old twins! 

No tears for you, John. 

First booking of the night goes to Neymar. The Barcelona forward, socks pulled up above his knees, has his studs showing as he goes in with his foot on Franco Vazquez, who winces as he falls to the turf.

Fascinating tactics from Sevilla. Barcelona have a goal kick, and Marc-Andre ter Stegen wants to play it short, so that they can build from the back. Sevilla's response is to place two men on the edge of the penalty area to shut down the options. Ter Stegen ends up playing the ball to Samuel Umtiti, standing more or less by the corner flag.

Sevilla's turn again. Even the full-backs do their bit in attack. Mariano, the right-back, charges down his flank, and loops a cross to the far side of the penalty area, where it's met with a full-blooded volley by... Sergio Escudero, the left-back. The ball flies wide of the goalkeeper's near post, and there's an excitable 'ooooo' from the crowd.

Barcelona respond in kind. A swift counter-attack sees Lionel Messi and Neymar combine to work the ball left to Luis Suarez, whose low shot is pushed aside by Sergio Rico. Not enough power in the shot to beat the goalkeeper; it's just a warning from Barca.

Sevilla do like to play at a fair old lick, and they're not slow off the mark here. Luciano Vietto wriggles clear of a clutch of Barcelona defenders on the edge of the area, and rolls a shot goalwards, but Marc-Andre ter Stegen gathers.

Image source, EPA

A bit of pressure on Barcelona tonight, after Real Madrid chalked up an expected home victory over promoted Leganes, winning 3-0. A victory for Barca, and they will be just two points behind Real going into the international break. Lose, and they will drop to third - and be five points adrift. The teams are with us, and we're under way..

There may well be more random musical references during the evening. All suggestions welcome, plus your comments and observations on the game. Hit me with your Twitter stick at #bbceurofooty

Looking back over my shoulder, in the style of Mike + The Mechanics, I should mention that Sevilla and Barcelona have met twice already this season, having contested the two-legged Spanish Super Cup in August. 

Barca were 2-0 victors at the Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium - and remain the only visiting team to win there this season. A friend of mine, also called Mike, went to the return leg at the Nou Camp, and said that it is only when you see Lionel Messi up close with the ball that you appreciate fully just what a genius he is. Messi scored with a classy header that night, Barca won 3-0 and secured a 5-0 aggregate victory.

Image source, AP

Image source, Gett

Is Barcelona manager Luis Enrique a fan of Marina and the Diamonds? He might want to check out her 2010 hit I Am Not A Robot after defending midfielder Sergio Busquets during preparations for tonight's game.

Busquets, 28, is having an indifferent season and his performance in Tuesday's 3-1 Champions League defeat by Manchester City came in for criticism., external

"My players aren't machines, they can have ups and downs," Enrique said. "I am very happy with him."

Image source, AF

Image source, AP

This just in from our contracts desk...

Cristiano Ronaldo has committed his future to Real Madrid by agreeing a new contract extension that will see him remain with the club until June 2021.

The 31-year-old's current deal ends in June 2018 but the Portuguese forward will sign a new contract on Monday that will end when he is 36.

It has been reported that Ronaldo's weekly wage will remain at around £365,000.

He's come a long way, that lad, since the days when he lived in Woodford. Full story here.

Barcelona's squad has been a little stretched by injuries; Gerard Pique, Jeremy Mathieu, Jordi Alba, Aleix Vidal and Andres Iniesta are all out. There's just one change from Tuesday, with Denis Suarez replacing Andre Gomes in midfield. Barcelona B team youngsters Nili and Marlon are on the bench.

Barcelona XI: Ter Stegen, Sergi Roberto, Mascherano, Umtiti, Digne, Rakitic, Busquets, Denis Suarez, Messi, Luis Suarez, Neymar.

Substitutes: Cillessen, Turan, Rafinha, Alcacer, Gomes, Nili, Marlon

The good news for Sevilla is that Nasri is fit to play after missing the midweek Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb with a hamstring problem. He replaces Matias Kranevitter, while Pablo Sarabia comes in for Ganso.

Defender Gabriel Mercado is suspended and is replaced by Daniel Carrico, who I am assured played (very briefly) for Reading four seasons ago. I asked one of my vast army of minions for photographic evidence of this, and after hunting in the cellar for some while, they discovered the photograph produced below.

Image source, Getty Images

Sevilla XI: Sergio Rico, Mariano, Rami, Carrico, Escudero, N'Zonzi, Nasri, Vitolo, Vazquez, Sarabia, Vietto.

Substitutes: Sirigu, Kranevitter, Iborra, Correa, Yedder, Kiyotake, Ganso.

Image source, AP

The new manager has lost just one of his opening 10 La Liga matches - a rather bizarre defeat at Athletic Bilbao in September, where midfielder Vicente Iborra ended up in goal - and sit third in La Liga. Sampaoli's men, who beat Atletico Madrid two weeks ago, have been inspired by the performances of midfielder Samir Nasri, on loan from Manchester City. 

Nasri has three goals to his name since his move to Spain, and has been at the heart of much of Sevilla's best attacking work. However, he has been struggling with a hamstring problem in the run-up to tonight's match.

Image source, Getty Images

Sevilla, Europa League winners for the last three seasons, have been through a significant transformation since beating Liverpool in Basel in May. Coach Unai Emery has moved on to Paris St-Germain and his replacement, former Chile boss Jorge Sampaoli, has seen 11 new players come in. Yet amid all the upheaval, Sampaoli has started rather well...

Image source, AP

After Manchester City produced an outstanding second-half display to send Enrique's men to a 3-1 Champions League Group C defeat, tonight the examination comes from a Sevilla side who model their style on the high possession, high pressing style with which Pep Guardiola made his name. Barca, perhaps, have a point to prove. It could be a sizzler at the Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.

Image source, Reuters

It was a dramatic night at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday. Barcelona present were defeated by Barcelona past and, according to reports,, external Lionel Messi even lost his cool in the tunnel afterwards. How will Luis Enrique and his players respond this evening? We shall find out in due course, but they could hardly have had a tougher follow-up fixture.