Barcelona will be looking to bounce back from their midweek Champions League defeat when the Catalans face Villarreal in La Liga.
Hansi Flick helped Barcelona get off to a perfect start in La Liga. The 27-time Spanish champions have taken all 15 points from their first five games and are alone at the top of the La Liga table. Apart from a few injuries, everything was going well for the Catalans until they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Monaco on Thursday after Eric García was sent off in the 10th minute.
Now Barcelona must turn their attention back to home games when they travel to Villarreal. The Yellow Submarine are unbeaten so far this season and in top form. Marcelino’s men have found the net 11 times in five games and will look to take advantage of the situation against an ill-rested Barcelona on Sunday.
Here is SI Soccer’s Villarreal vs Barcelona guide.
Last meeting: Barcelona 3-5 Villarreal (January 27, 2024) – La Liga
Current form (all competitions)
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Villarreal |
Barcelona |
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Mallorca – Villarreal 1–2 – September 14, 2024 |
Monaco – Barcelona 2-1 – September 19, 2024 |
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Valencia 1–1 – Villarreal – August 31, 2024 |
Girona 1-4 Barcelona – September 15, 2024 |
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Villarreal 4–3 Celta Vigo – August 28, 2024 |
Barcelona 7–0 Real Valladolid – August 31, 2024 |
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Sevilla 1-2 Villarreal – August 23, 2024 |
Rayo Vallecano 1-2 Barcelona – August 27, 2024 |
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Villarreal – Atletico Madrid 2–2 – August 19, 2024 |
Barcelona – Athletic Club 2–1 – August 24, 2024 |
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country |
TV channel/live stream |
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United States |
ESPN+ |
Willy Kambwala, Gerard Moreno, Juan Foyth and Alfonso Pedraza remain out through injury for Villarreal, while Marcelino is likely to field a largely unchanged XI against Barcelona after his side came from behind to take all three points against Mallorca.
Ayoze Pérez is expected to be at the top again; the Spaniard has already scored three goals in five La Liga games for Villarreal.
Expected lineup of Villarreal against Barcelona (4–4–2): Conde; Kiko, Albiol, Costa, S. Cardona; Pino, Comesaña, Parejo, Baena; Perez, Barry
Barcelona are in the midst of an injury crisis, with Dani Olmo, Frenkie de Jong, Ronald Araújo, Gavi, Marc Bernal and Fermín López all still unfit to play. Marc Casadó picked up an injury at the end of Barcelona’s UCL match against Monaco during the week, but the midfielder is still likely to be available for action on Sunday.
Ferran Torres is also unavailable after his sending off against Girona last weekend.
Expected line-up of Barcelona against Villarreal (4–2–3–1): ter Stegen; Koundé, Cubarsí, I. Martínez, Balde; Casadó, E. García; Yamal, Pedri, Raphinha; Lewandowski
Playing three days after battling with ten men for 80 minutes will be difficult for Barcelona, especially as Flick has so few players he can realistically substitute into the starting 11. Villarreal are perfectly capable of beating Marc-André ter Stegen, but the visitors should have enough talent on the pitch to take all three points.
Prediction: Villarreal – Barcelona 1-2
