Prediction: Barcelona vs Villarreal

Prediction: Barcelona to win 2-1

Best Odds: 13/2

Bookmaker: Betfair

Barcelona and Villarreal will face each other in La Liga this week. The match between the Blaugrana and the Yellow Submarine will be held at Camp Nou and is scheduled to kick off at 8pm UK time on Thursday.

Barcelona 

Barcelona struggled for most of last season and could not challenge bitter rivals Real Madrid at all for the La Liga title. However, things are going much better for Xavi’s side this season, and the Blaugrana are very much in the race for the championship.

The Blaugrana are second in the La Liga table at the moment with 22 points from nine matches. Barcelona are three points behind leaders Real Madrid and are very much in a position to challenge the defending champions for the title for the rest of the season.

Barcelona, though, suffered a defeat in El Clasico this past weekend. Xavi’s side went down 3-1 to Madrid away from home at the Santiago Bernabeu. It followed a 3-3 draw with Inter Milan at Camp Nou in the UEFA Champions League.

Team News:

Memphis Depay is out for Barcelona with a hamstring injury, while Ronald Araujo is a long-term absentee for the former La Liga and UEFA Champions League winners. Hector Bellerin and Andreas Christensen are also on the sidelines.

Villarreal

Villarreal have done well in La Liga over the years and have even playing in major European competitions such as the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League in recent seasons. The Yellow Submarine ended up as high as seventh in the La Liga table last season, and they will aspire to do better this time around.

Unai Emery’s side are seventh in the La Liga table at the moment with 15 points from nine matches. Villarreal are only four points behind former Spanish champions and second-placed Atletico Madrid. The Yellow Submarine have started the season strongly and need to maintain this high level in the coming weeks and months to end up in the top four.

Villarreal will head into the La Liga match against Barcelona at Camp Nou on the back of a 2-0 victory over Osasuna at Estadi Ciutat de València in La Liga. It followed a 1-0 victory over Austria Vienna away from home in the UEFA Champions League.

Team News:

Francis Coquelin will not play for Villarreal until the start of November due to a calf injury. Gerard Moreno and Juan Foyth could miss the match for the Yellow Submarine.

Key Factors to Consider

• Barcelona have scored 21 goals in 9 La Liga matches.
• Barcelona have conceded 4 goals in 9 La Liga matches.
• Villarreal have conceded 3 goals in 9 La Liga games.
• Robert Lewandowski have scored 9 goals in 9 La Liga games.
• Alex Baena has scored 3 goals in 9 La Liga matches.

Conclusion

Villarreal are doing well at the moment, and Unai Emery’s side will travel to Camp Nou fancying their chances of winning against Barcelona. However, Barca have a better team, and they will also be determined to bounce back from the defeat to Real Madrid.

Prediction: Barcelona to win 2-1

Best Odds: 13/2

Bookmaker: Betfair