Prediction: Villarreal vs Barcelona

Prediction: Barcelona to win 2-0

Best Odds: 9/1

Bookmaker: Betfair

Villarreal and Barcelona will face each other in La Liga this coming weekend. The match between the Yellow Submarine and the Blaugrana will take place at Estadio de la Cerámica and is scheduled to kick off at 8pm UK time next Sunday.

Villarreal

Villarreal are a big and established club in La Liga who consistently challenge for the UEFA Champions League places. The Yellow Submarine finished seventh in the Premier League table last season and reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League. In 2020-21, Villarreal ended up seventh in the league and won the UEFA Europa League.

Quique Setién’s side are fifth in the La Liga table at the moment with 31 points from 20 matches. Villarreal are four points behind former Spanish champions Atletico Madrid, who are currently fourth in the standings and occupy the final UEFA Champions League spot in the table. They are level on points with sixth-placed Real Betis.

Villarreal will head into the La Liga match against Barcelona next weekend on the back of a 3-1 defeat to Elche away from home in La Liga. It came after a 1-0 loss at the hands of Rayo Vallecano at home in the league and followed a 1-0 victory over Girona in front of their own fans in La Liga.

Team News:

Villarreal head coach Quique Setién is likely to deploy a 4-3-3 formation against Barcelona. Pepe Reina will keep his place in goal and will have Juan Foyth, Raul Albion, Jorge Cuenca and Johan Mojica in front of him in a four-man defence. Gerard Moreno will lead the line for the home team.

Barcelona

Barcelona had a really poor campaign last season, but things are looking much better now. True, Xavi’s side have failed in the UEFA Champions League yet again this campaign, but they are flying in La Liga and are now firm favourites to become the champions of Spain again.

The Blaugrana are at the top of the La Liga table at the moment with 53 points from 20 matches. Barcelona are as many as eight points clear of second-placed, defending champions and bitter rivals Real Madrid. Unless Barcelona suffer a dramatic collapse in the coming weeks and months, it is hard to see them not win the championship.

Barcelona will head into the match against Villarreal away from home in La Liga this coming weekend on the back of a 3-0 victory over Sevilla at Camp Nou in the league. It came after a 2-1 victory over Real Betis away from home in La Liga and followed a 1-0 successive over Girona on the road in the league.

Team News:

Barcelona head coach Xavi is unlikely to make too many changes to the team that won against Sevilla at Camp Nou in La Liga this past weekend. Robert Lewandowski will lead the line and will face Raphinha and Gavi on either flank in a 4-3-3 formation. Pedri, Sergio Busquests and Frenkie de Jong will be the three midfielders.

Key Factors to Consider

• Barcelona have lost just 1 La Liga game so far this season.
• Barcelona have conceded only 7 goals in 20 La Liga games so far this season.
• Villarreal have lost 2 and won 2 of their last 5 Premier League matches.
• Villarreal have scored 22 goals in 20 La Liga games so far this campaign.
• Robert Lewandowski has scored 14 goals and given 4 assists in 17 La Liga games.

Conclusion

Barcelona have been the best team in La Liga so far this season and are the clear favourites for the title. Xavi’s side are simply not losing or drawing games at the moment, either at home or away. Now, Villarreal are at home and have a good team, and they are also aiming to finish in the UEFA Champions League places in the La Liga table this season. However, it is hard to see Xavi’s side slip up. It should be an easy win for Barcelona.

Prediction: Barcelona to win 2-0

Best Odds: 9/1

Bookmaker: Betfair