Villarreal vs Barcelona predictions, H2H and match preview for this Sunday’s game in LaLiga. Read on for analysis, free betting tips and predicted line-ups as the Catalans face a really tough game against in-form Villarreal.
by Mark Sochon (@marksoc1)
Villarreal vs Barcelona Preview
Barcelona face a really tough test on Sunday evening as they travel to play a Villarreal side that has arguably been the most impressive team in LaLiga since the restart. The pressure is on Quique Setien to find a cure for his team’s away day struggles and they simply have to win this fixture if they are going to retain any realistic chance of clinching the title.
Villarreal have been outstanding in some of their recent matches. Javier Calleja has rotated his team in some fixtures but the results keep coming with an excellent return of 16 points from their 6 games since the resumption. Their last two performances have both been top draw as they dominated games against Valencia and Betis, and could easily have won either game by more than the 2-0 margin which they managed.
As for Barcelona, it’s 3 draws from 4 heading into this and that really has shifted the title race in Real Madrid’s favour. For all they may bemoan decisions going against them and in favour of Real Madrid, Barcelona’s performances haven’t been good enough – particularly away from home where they’ve won just 6 out of 16 in LaLiga this season, a huge drop on recent seasons where they’ve won the title with relative ease.
That isn’t going to be the case this term and even a victory here is unlikely to alter the destiny of the title. It would though restore a bit of faith in the methods of Quique Setien who may find his position come under serious threat if there are not significantly more encouraging signs in upcoming games.
We have LaLiga match previews for every game this weekend plus Segunda Division predictions.
Villarreal vs Barcelona Predictions
Score Prediction: 2-1 Villarreal
Some of Barcelona’s play against Atletico Madrid and even Celta Vigo did offer some positives, particularly with Riqui Puig looking lively in midfield. This is a really tough game though against a Villarreal side that suddenly looks quite a complete outfit with a solid defence, plenty of creativity in midfield and a couple of good finishers in the shape of Gerard Moreno and Paco Alcacer.
The Yellow Submarine are unbeaten at home to top half opposition this term and they look capable of bolstering their top four hopes and virtually ending the title race here.
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Villarreal vs Barcelona H2H
- Last 6 Competitive Meetings: 5 Barcelona Wins, 1 Draw.
- These sides played out a thrilling 4-4 draw in this fixture last season.
- Barcelona haven’t lost any of their last 23 games against Villarreal in all competitions.
- 3 of the last 4 meetings at the Ceramica have been drawn.
Predicted Line Ups
Villarreal Team:
Asenjo – Moreno, Torres, Albiol, Pena – Cazorla, Anguissa, Iborra, Chukwueze – Moreno, Alcacer (4-4-2)
Barcelona Team:
Ter Stegen – Alba, Lenglet, Pique, Roberto – Puig, Busquets, Vidal – Fati, Suarez, Messi (4-3-3)
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