“We have conceded goals in recent games, but pre-season is in order to improve”.
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The Spanish Super Cup pits the league champion against the Copa del Rey victor, but since Barcelona won both, Sevilla was invited as the Copa del Rey runner-up.
The second leg is at the Nou Camp on Wednesday, with Spain’s La Liga season beginning on Friday.
Sevilla are without David Soria, Nico Pareja, Daniel Carrico and Timothee Kolodziejczak, while Barca have lost goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to injury.
Barcelona eventually doubled their lead in the 80th minute as Lionel Messi played in Munir El Haddadi, who calmly slotted past the on-rushing Rico.
Barcelona and Sevilla are looking to get the Spanish season started off with a bang.
The teams last played in May this year and Barcelona won the game 2 – 0.
The Argentine manager, a Copa America victor with Chile in 2015, has already stamped his mark on the side, playing a bold 3-5-2 formation against Madrid.
Last season they beat Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup, a 5-4 thriller, and their opponents come into this clash having suffered another defeat in this year’s edition of that final, against Real Madrid.
“We have our minds focused on Sevilla, a team that has changed its style of play with a new manager and looks very risky”, Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said.
He said: “For characteristics, history and because we’re without players and coming off a 120-minute match which has cut short our preparations, it’s normal that Barcelona have this position (favourites)”. New boss Jorge Sampaoli will hope his team can bounce back from that disappointment by drawing first blood against Barcelona in the Super Cup.
The home side pushed for an equaliser as the second half went on, but they struggled to bypass a soled Barcelona defence led by Javier Mascherano and Gerard Pique.
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Sevilla will be without long-term absentees Michael Krohn-Dehli and Benoit Tremoulinas.
