Barcelona Hope to Regain Top Spot with Win
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There are four La Liga games to look forward to on Sunday and the many eyes will be on the Camp Nou as Barcelona host Villarreal.
Barcelona will be hoping to move back to the top of La Liga with a win but must win this game and hope Sevilla drop points in their match which follows against Deportivo Alaves. However, a defeat could see them drop as low as fourth.
Villarreal are looking over their shoulder and they are just 3 points clear of the relegation zone heading into the weekend. They could even drop a place before playing this match and the pressure will be on to get something from a tough venue.
Barcelona secured their place in the Champions League round of 16 with a hard-fought 2-1 win at PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday night. The can now take their minds off Europe and focus on La Liga for the next few months.
Trends show Barcelona have lost just one of their last twelve games in all competitions and just five of their last seventy-six, which is a tremendous record. However, things have not been going perfectly in La Liga and Barcelona have failed to win their last two matches. They were defeated 4-3 at home by Real Betis and held to a 1-1 draw at Atletico Madrid.
Home form has not been great and Barcelona have won two of their last five home La Liga games. They defeated Sevilla and Real Madrid, scoring 9 goals in the process but conceding goals has been a problem this season. Trends show both teams have scored in each of their last eleven La Liga games.
Villarreal arrive in Barcelona having played out a tough 0-0 draw with Scottish club Rangers on Thursday night in the Europa League. Their progress in that competition is still unsure but focus must turn to this important game.
Trends show Villarreal are a difficult team to beat and they have remained undefeated in their last six games in all competitions. The Yellow Submarine have lost only two of their last eleven away matches and have never been behind at half-time in their last nineteen in all competitions.
However, Villarreal have won only one of their last six games, with the other five ending in draws, including their last four away matches in all competitions.
Team news and Barcelona have a long injury list and Luis Suarez, Samuel Umtiti, Rafinha, Sergi Roberto, Arthur and Thomas Vermaelen are all set to miss the game. Lionel Messi could start with Ousmane Dembele up-front.
Villarreal are monitoring the fitness of Javi Fuego and Bruno Soriano who are recovering from ankle and leg injuries respectively. Javi Calleja will need to assess his squad following the game at Rangers on Thursday night.
Barcelona will always start as the favourites at home despite not being at their best this season. Villarreal could give them a scare and may keep things tight up until half-time but expect Barcelona to go on and win the game in the second half.