Barcelona will be aiming to secure a positive end to the 2021/22 La Liga campaign when they play hosts to Villarreal on Sunday.
Following a disastrous start to the season, Barcelona have turned it around quite well under the leadership of Xavi Hernandez. Although the Catalans have not been able to keep up with arch-rivals Real Madrid during the course of the season, they will be happy with the progress they have made, and things are only looking up for them as we gear up for the summer transfer window.
On Sunday, Barcelona will look to cap off their campaign on a positive note when they take on Villarreal at Camp Nou. The hosts have their second place in the league table secured thanks to a healthy five-point lead over Atletico Madrid.
Villarreal, though, are in for a more tense affair as they must secure all three points at Camp Nou this weekend in order to retain their seventh place in the league table. Despite reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League this term, the Yellow Submarine are running the risk of completely missing out on European football next season.
They are currently seventh in the league table, a point ahead of Athletic Club. But a defeat to Barcelona could hand Athletic the opportunity to finish in the UEFA Europa Conference League place, although the Basque outfit must secure a win over fourth-placed Sevilla.
Unai Emery’s men were beaten 3-1 at the hands of Barcelona in the reverse fixture. But the visitors will be hoping for better luck against Xavi’s men and here, at The Hard Tackle, we will run the rule over these two sides ahead of their enticing match-up at Camp Nou this weekend.
Team News & Tactics
Barcelona
The squad for #BarçaVillarreal! pic.twitter.com/X1QQHMZ1g3
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 21, 2022
Barcelona are heading into this affair with a myriad of absentees, including key defensive leader Gerard Pique, right-back Sergino Dest and utility man Sergi Roberto. Eric Garcia is ruled out for the rest of the season as well, joining Pedri on the list of players available for this game.
Oscar Mingueza had made a positive impact for Barcelona during the last game, and with Garcia and Pique out injured, one would expect the youth graduate to continue. But with Jordi Alba back in contention this weekend, Clement Lenglet may have to make way, meaning the central defensive combination could consist of Mingueza and Ronald Araujo.
Dani Alves should continue at right-back, while Alba is a guaranteed starter on the opposite flank. The latter’s ability to make marauding runs forward and provide width could go a long way in helping Barcelona stretch the Villarreal defence.
In midfield, Barcelona are set to be boosted by the return of Frenkie de Jong. The Dutchman is back from suspension and should get the nod in central midfield, replacing Riqui Puig. He and Gavi could play a vital role in offering the creative essence in Barcelona’s approach play, with Sergio Busquets orchestrating the game in the number six role.
Moving forward, Xavi is more than likely to axe Ferran Torres following a host of poor performances. But with Memphis Depay appearing a slight doubt, the former Manchester City forward could get the nod out wide, alongside Ousmane Dembele, with the duo looking to provide the supply for main striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): ter Stegen; Alves, Araujo, Mingueza, Alba; de Jong, Busquets, Gavi; Dembele, Aubameyang, Torres
Villarreal
Villarreal boss Unai Emery has to deal with his fair share of absentees as well, including key goalscorer Gerard Moreno. The Spanish striker is joined by Alberto Moreno in Villarreal’s list of absentees, while dynamic forward Arnaut Danjuma remains a doubt for Sunday.
While Emery is unlikely to deviate from his tried and tested 4-4-2 formation, the potential absence of Moreno and Danjuma could see Boulaye Dia and Giovani Lo Celso spearheading the Villarreal attack, with Paco Alcacer serving as an alternative.
?@UnaiEmery_ has spoken to the press ahead of our last game of the season against @FCBarcelona?.#BarçaVillarreal
— Villarreal CF English (@VillarrealCFen) May 20, 2022
Lo Celso will be given the freedom to drop back whenever necessary in order to help out the central midfielders Etienne Capoue and Dani Parejo in the second line of press. Additional support out wide is going to be provided by Samuel Chukwueze and Francis Coquelin, who is more than likely to drop into a more central role when the game demands it.
Coquelin potentially dropping into midfield is going to be balanced out by left-back Pervis Estupinan making attacking forays into the final third, whereas Mario Gaspar could retain a more defensive role on the opposite flank, hoping to aid the two central defenders in Raul Albiol and Pau Torres.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Rulli; Gaspar, Albiol, Pau Torres, Estupinan; Chukwueze, Capoue, Parejo, Coquelin; Lo Celso, Dia
Key Stats
- Barcelona have won their last five games against Villarreal in La Liga, and could register six wins in a row against them for the first time in the competition.
- Villarreal have lost each of their last ten games at Camp Nou in La Liga, suffering their worst run of successive away defeats against a single opponent in the competition’s history.
- Barcelona have suffered four defeats in 18 home games in La Liga 21/22 (W12 D2), their most at home in the competition in a single season since 2002/03 (four also). The previous league campaign in which the Blaugrana lost more home games was 1986/87 (seven).
- After the 0-0 draw with Getafe last time out, Barcelona could fail to score in back-to-back La Liga games for the first time since April 2008 under Frank Rijkaard and could record back-to-back stalemates in the same league campaign for the first time since September 1993 under Johan Cruyff.
- Villarreal have won two of their last three La Liga away games (L1), one fewer win than in their previous 16 away games in the competition (W3 D5 L8).
Player to Watch
Ousmane Dembele
All eyes will be on Ousmane Dembele, as this could potentially be his last game for Barcelona after five years at the club. The French winger has been in electric form since February, becoming Barcelona’s creator-in-chief and starring in important victories, including the 4-0 triumph over Real Madrid.
Barcelona have been locked in negotiations with Dembele’s agent over a renewal. But neither party has been able to get closer to reaching an agreement, leading to speculations over the Frenchman’s likely exit from Camp Nou at the end of the season.
With that in mind, Dembele could receive a warm reception from Barcelona fans, while the player himself will be keen on ending the season well, regardless of what the future has in store for him.
Prediction
Barcelona 1-1 Villarreal
Villarreal are a tough nut to crack, thanks to their strong defensive foundation built by Pau Torres and Raul Albiol, under the leadership of Unai Emery. With that in mind, it will be difficult for the Barcelona attackers to break the shackles of the opposition defence, especially given how one-dimensional the Catalans have looked going forward.
Hence, we are expecting a cagey affair at Camp Nou this weekend, with both sides likely to fight tooth and nail for control of the proceedings, while the chances may only come at a premium. At the end of the day, the two sides may have to share the spoils, with The Hard Tackle predicting a 1-1 draw between Barcelona and Villarreal.
