Rakitic still has fond memories of his spell in Seville and has been thinking about the return to face his former club ever since the fixture list was released.
"It will be a very special game because of everything I experienced there,” he told Barca’s official website.
“The city has engraved itself very deeply into my heart and my life. What I have experienced there for three and a half years was a special time.
“Honestly, ever since I was introduced at Barcelona I have been thinking about the match against Sevilla at the Sanchez Pizjuan.”