Barcelona eye Europa League quarters as West Ham welcome Sevilla

Barcelona team players (first row LtoR) Spanish forward Adama Traore, US defender Sergino Dest, Spanish midfielder Pedri, Spanish midfielder Gavi, Spanish defender Jordi Alba (second row LtoR) German goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Spanish forward Ferran Torres, Uruguayan defender Ronald Araujo, Dutch midfielder Frenkie De Jong, Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets and Spanish defender Gerard Pique pose prior to the Spanish league football match between RCD Espanyol and FC Barcelona at the RCDE Stadium in Cornella de Llobregat on February 13, 2022. (Photo by Pau BARRENA / AFP)

Barcelona and tournament specialists Sevilla are hoping to secure spots in the quarter-finals of the Europa League this week with three Spanish teams still in a competition dominated by La Liga clubs in recent years.

A rejuvenated Barca head to Istanbul for the second leg of their last-16 tie against Galatasaray on a 10-game unbeaten run that has propelled them back up to third in La Liga and seen them emerge as one of the favourites to win the Europa League.

“The fans are enjoying themselves when they come to the stadium, and so are we out on the pitch,” said Gerard Pique, who played his 600th game for Barcelona in Sunday’s 4-0 defeat of Osasuna.

“The results are coming back and we hope to keep this going through to the end of the season,” the veteran centre-back told the club’s website.

However, Xavi Hernandez’s side were held 0-0 at home by a struggling Galatasaray in the first leg of their Europa League tie last week so still have work to do to reach the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile Sevilla are in London to play West Ham United with a 1-0 lead from the first leg given to them by Munir El Haddadi’s goal.

Six draws in their last eight league games have