Jorge Sampaoli has a final shot to further his case to land his dream job at the end of the season when his slumping Sevilla side travel to Barcelona on Wednesday.
Sampaoli looked to be at the head of the queue when Barca boss Luis Enrique announced he would step down at the end of the campaign little over a month ago.
However, since then Sevilla have been knocked out of the Champions League by Leicester City and tumbled out of contention for the Primera Liga title with Atletico Madrid passing them into third place.
Sampaoli’s future at the Sanchez Pizjuan is far from clear with long-term sporting director Monchi’s decision to leave last week adding further uncertainty.
What does seem obvious, though, is that Sampaoli would jump at the chance to coach compatriot Lionel Messi and Barca’s host of other stars next season.
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“I want to manage Messi to be able to watch him from the sideline every day.” Sampaoli told Argentine newspaper Ole last week.
“It is a unique dream to be able to see the best in the world up close.”
Sampaoli may get his wish to coach Messi, albeit not on a daily basis with the Argentine Football Association reportedly set to offer him the chance to salvage their faltering World Cup qualifying campaign.
Barca, meanwhile, look set to go in another direction with Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde and Enrique’s assistant Juan Carlos Unzue emerging as the favourites to take over next season.
Wednesday’s clash gives Sampaoli one last chance to impress the Barca hierarchy, while the Sevilla squad are focused on booking their place in next season’s Champions League without needing to win a trick August qualifier by beating out Atletico for third place.
“It is difficult for us to accept right now, but we have to turn it around because we are the same team as five games ago when we were second,” said striker Stefan Jovetic after a frustrating 0-0 draw at home to third bottom Sporting Gijón on Saturday.
Unfortunately for Sevilla, though, Messi is back after missing his last two games for club and country through suspension.
“It is very difficult for a team with Leo playing well to lose,” added Sampaoli.
The five-time World Player of the Year’s absence didn’t prove a fatal blow to Barca’s title hopes as Luis Suarez and Neymar both scored in Sunday’s 4-1 win at Granada to remain just two points behind Primera Liga leaders Real Madrid.
All three are set to be reunited, while Gerard Pique and Andres Iniesta also return for Barca after being rested from the start against Granada.
Madrid also have a game in hand, but Barca can ramp up the pressure on their title rivals by going top with victory before Real travel to Leganes later on Wednesday.
* Agence France-Presse
Primera Liga fixtures, All times UAE
Tuesday
• Athletic Bilbao v Espanyol, 9.30pm
• Atletico Madrid v Real Sociedad, 11.30pm
• Real Betis v Villarreal, 11.30pm
Wednesday
• Barcelona v Sevilla, 6.30pm
• Deportivo La Coruna v Granada, 10.30pm
• Alaves v Osasuna, 10.30pm
• Sporting Gijón v Málaga, 10.30pm
• Leganes v Real Madrid, 11.30pm
Thursday
• Eibar v Las Palmas, 9.30pm
• Valencia v Celta Vigo, 11.30pm
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MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 2 (Benzema 13', Kroos 28')
Barcelona 1 (Mingueza 60')
Red card: Casemiro (Real Madrid)
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Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
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THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
