Having reclaimed top spot last time out, Barcelona will look to ensure they do not slip up again when they host top-four hopefuls Villarreal.
Third-placed Villarreal will be eyeing a third straight win in La Liga when they hit the road to square up against league leaders Barcelona at Spotify Camp Nou on Saturday afternoon.
The home team are top of the table with 61 points in their 25 outings, thanks to 20 wins, one draw and four defeats. After a run of two straight defeats in all competitions, the Catalan giants returned to winning ways against Levante last time out.
With Real Madrid suffering a defeat, the 3-0 win over Levante has helped Barcelona establish a one-point lead at the top. Given how slender the lead is, the Blaugrana certainly cannot afford to take things lightly.
Meanwhile, the visitors are third on the table with 51 points in their 25 outings, with 16 wins, three draws and six defeats. The Yellow Submarine are ten points behind the leaders, and they do not really seem to be serious contenders. However, they are in a very comfortable position in the battle for a top-four finish.
Villarreal are nine points clear of fifth-placed Real Betis. More importantly, the away side are heading into this fixture on the back of consecutive wins over Levante and Valencia. The Yellow Submarine were not at their best in the game against Valencia, but they did get the job done. They will certainly need a more complete performance to rival Barcelona. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.
Team News & Tactics
Barcelona
The Catalan giants will be without the services of Andreas Christensen (ACL), Frenkie de Jong (hamstring), and Gerard Martin (suspension). While Gavi is back in training, he is coming back from a long lay-off and won’t be rushed into action straightaway.
Barcelona will stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation, where Joan Garcia will be in goal. Jules Kounde and Joao Cancelo should be the full-backs for this outing, while Pau Cubarsi will pair up with Eric Garcia in the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Marc Bernal and Pedri will form the double pivot in the centre of the park. They will look to shield the backline and control the tempo of the game. Lamine Yamal and Raphinha will feature on the flanks for the home team, while Fermin Lopez will take up the number ten role. Finally, Robert Lewandowski will continue to lead the line for Barcelona against Villarreal.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Joan Garcia; Kounde, Cubarsi, Eric Garcia, Cancelo; Bernal, Pedri; Yamal, Fermin, Raphinha; Lewandowski
Villarreal
The visitors remain without the services of Willy Kambwala (hamstring), Logan Costa (knee), Pau Cabanes (knee), and Juan Foyth (knee). Meanwhile, Gerard Moreno (thigh) and Pape Gueye (thigh) will both undergo late fitness tests to determine their availability.
Villarreal will line up in a 4-4-2 formation, where Luiz Junior will take charge in goal. Santiago Mourino and Alfonso Pedraza will be the full-backs for the away team, while Pau Navarro will start alongside Renato Veiga in the central defensive partnership.
In the centre of the park, Nicolas Pepe and Alberto Moleiro will feature in the wide areas. The duo will look to help out the full-backs and provide width to their attacks. Meanwhile, Santi Comesana will pair up with Pape Gueye in the central areas.
The Villarreal central midfield duo will look to ensure the Barcelona midfielders do not run the show at Spotify Camp Nou this weekend. Finally, Georges Mikautadze will start alongside Ayoze Perez in the strike partnership.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Luiz Junior; Mourino, Navarro, Veiga, Pedraza; Pepe, Comesana, Gueye, Moleiro; Mikautadze, Perez
Key Stats
- Villarreal have won three out of their last four outings in all competitions.
- The Yellow Submarine have won their last two away games against the Catalan giants.
- Barcelona have lost two out of their last three outings across competitions.
- Villarreal have the fourth-best away record in La Liga this term, with 20 points in 12 matches (six wins).
- Barcelona last won a game against Villarreal at home back in October 2022.
Player to Watch
Fermin Lopez
Fermin Lopez might not be a regular starter for Barcelona under Hansi Flick, but he is certainly a very important part of their squad. The 22-year-old attacking midfielder has become a very reliable option for the German manager, be it from the bench or from the start.
Apart from the number ten role, Flick tends to use him in a deeper role in midfield as well as outwide on the flanks. So far, the youngster has been involved in 32 matches in all competitions, racking up just over 2,000 minutes. The Spanish international has managed to contribute towards 23 goals (11 goals, 12 assists).
Prediction
Barcelona 2-1 Villarreal
Barcelona will head into this fixture knowing there is little margin for error at the top, and they are likely to approach the game with a strong sense of urgency. While Villarreal have troubled them in recent meetings, the Catalan giants should benefit from playing at home and having more control over possession, especially with key attackers capable of deciding tight games.
Villarreal are good enough to make this an uncomfortable evening and could trouble Barcelona in transitions, but sustaining that threat over 90 minutes may prove difficult. Expect a competitive contest, with Barcelona just about doing enough to edge past a well-organised Villarreal side and protect their narrow lead at the summit. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for the Catalan giants.
