Barcelona have been exciting to watch for the neutral this season and we expect more of the same in this match as analysis suggests we should see goals.
The match between Barcelona and Villarreal will take place on the 27th of January at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. The hosts begin the weekend in 3rd place on 44 points while the visitors are in 14th place on 20 points.
🌱💪 Ter Stegen has now started training on the field pic.twitter.com/WCUbC1NaGt— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 26, 2024
🌱💪 Ter Stegen has now started training on the field pic.twitter.com/WCUbC1NaGt
Barcelona come into the game on the back of a 4-2 extra time defeat at Athletic Club in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday night.
Barcelona started poorly and conceded the first goal in the opening minute but came back well to take a 2-1 lead into the interval.
Into the second half and Athletic Club equalised in the 49th minute and that took the match into extra time. Athletic Club scored their third goal in the 105th minute and fourth at the end of the added period to win.
The defeat against Athletic Club means Barcelona have won 5 of their 7 most recent fixtures in all competitions.
There have been wins at Las Palmas and Real Betis in La Liga, Barbastro and Unionistas de Salamanca in the Copa del Rey, and Osasuna in the Spanish Super Cup.
Trends show there have been 3 consecutive La Liga wins in a row for Barcelona and they are unbeaten in 34 of their last 39 home games in all competitions.
Barcelona have seen over 2.5 goals and both teams scoring in each of their last 4 matches in all competitions.
Villarreal travel to the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys having been held to a 1-1 draw at home by Mallorca in La Liga last weekend.
Villarreal took the lead on the stroke of half time but having had a player sent off in the second half, they conceded the equaliser in added time.
The draw with Mallorca means Villarreal have failed to win any of their 4 most recent fixtures in all competitions. There have been 3 defeats against Valencia and Las Palmas away plus Unionistas de Salamanca away in the Copa del Rey.
The stats show Villarreal have achieved just 1 win in their last 9 away La Liga games. Villarreal have seen both teams score in 5 of their 6 most recent away trips in the league.
Team news: Barcelona have several players on the treatment table, including Andreas Christensen, Raphinha, Joao Cancelo, Íñigo Martinez, Marcos Alonso, Gavi, and Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Villarreal are without Aissa Mandi who is on international duty and Pepe Reina, who is suspended. Alfonso Pedraza, Ramón Terrats, Daniel Parejo, Raul Albiol, Juan Foyth, Yéremi Pino, and Denis Suarez are all in the treatment room.
Both teams are suffering from injuries right now and we should see an open game. Both teams scoring and over 2.5 goals is a high possibility and with Villarreal’s poor recent away record, Barcelona should come out on top.