Barcelona hopes to recover from their Champions League disappointment with an away win against Villarreal to maintain their top spot in La Liga.
VIL vs BAR Match Details
Date: Sunday, 22 September 2024
Time: 18:30 (CET), 22:00 (IST)
Venue: Estadio de la Cerámica, Villarreal
VIL vs BAR Match Preview
Villarreal has begun the first full season in the second stint of Marcelino in a bright fashion with three wins and two draws in the first five league games. Their bright start has put them fourth on the La Liga table alongside the leaders Barcelona and the two Madrid clubs. The Yellow Submarine will be eager to overturn their disappointing eighth finish last term making a hopeful beginning to the new season. The side failed to keep a clean sheet in the past five games but they showed their never-die attitude with stoppage-time winners in three matches. Villarreal will hope to maintain their momentum against leaders Barcelona at home having won the last meeting in the league 5-3 albeit the visitors carrying an excellent form. The Catalan giants suffered disappointment in Europe so Marcelino’s side needs to be aware of a reaction coming in.
Barcelona failed to translate their fruitful start in La Liga to the Champions League stage losing the League Phase opener to Monaco in France. Eric Garcia getting sent off in just the 10th minute of the match cost the side dearly as the hosts claimed a 2-1 victory despite Lamine Yamal's first Champions League goal bringing the scores level on the half-hour mark. Hansi Flick's side will want to term the defeat as an accident after a perfect show on the domestic front raising hopes following a trophyless season last time. The Blaugrana would want to bounce back strongly as they return to La Liga action with a trip to Villarreal and extend their lead on top of the table. The home side are just four points behind them so they can’t slip off in this fixture with Atletico Madrid and holders Real Madrid also lurking behind with the same difference.
Recent Form (La Liga)
VIL: DWWDW
BAR: WWWWW
VIL vs BAR Team News
Villarreal will miss Willy Kambwala, Gerard Moreno, Juan Foyth and Alfonso Pedraza due to injuries. Whereas, Barcelona are unable to call up Fermin Lopez, Marc Bernal, Andreas Christensen, Ronald Araujo, Frenkie de Jong, Gavi and new signing Dani Olmo who are sidelined with their respective issues. Ferran Torres is also out due to his red card against Girona last weekend but Eric Garcia is available as his red card suspension is only for Champions League games.
VIL vs BAR Predicted Lineups
Villarreal
Conde; Femenia, Albiol, Costa, S Cardona; Akhomach, Comesana, Parejo, Baena; Perez, Barry
Barcelona
Ter Stegen; Kounde, Cubarsi, I Martinez, Balde; Casado, E Garcia, Pedri; Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha
VIL vs BAR head-to-head
Played - 44
VIL won - 7
Draws - 9
BAR won: 28
VIL vs BAR Match Prediction
Villarreal is a considerable threat at home and are shining under Marcelino this season, but visitors Barcelona are rolling in the La Liga under Flick with their Champions League defeat unlikely to trouble their domestic form. We predict a 2-1 win for the league leaders.
VIL vs BAR Dream11 Top picks
Captain Pick: Lamine Yamal
Vice-captain Picks: Robert Lewandowski
Our top pick for the VIL vs BAR Dream11 team remains Lamine Yamal scoring four goals and registering four assists in six appearances.
VIL vs BAR Dream11 Team Suggestion
GK: Conde (Cr - 7.5, Pts - 139)
DEF: Koundé (Cr - 8, Pts - 205), Martinez (Cr - 7.5, Pts - 143) Cardona (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 169),
MID: Yamal (Cr - 9, Pts - 400), Parejo ( Cr- 7, Pts - 103), Baena (Pts - 9, 111), Pedri (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 227), Perez (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 137)
FW: Raphinha (Cr - 9, Pts - 374), Lewandowski (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 298)
Vice-captain: Robert Lewandowski
Captain: Lamine Yamal
