Barcelona are set to host Villareal in their next league fixture. There is a 24-point difference between these teams, with Barca sitting in the third spot while Villareal is fourteenth. Can Barca secure a win and increase the gap? Our preview will dissect all angles for you.
| ℹ️ Tournament: | Spanish La Liga season 2023-24, Round 22 |
| 🏟️ Venue: | Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona, Spain |
| 🗓️ Date: | 27 January 2024 |
| ⏰ Time: | 17:30 GMT on Saturday |
Football best bookies fancy a win for Barcelona at 1.33 (1/3) odds, while Villareal is rated with 8.50 (15/2) odds for an away victory. The Barcelona vs Villareal odds for a draw are available at 5.50 (9/2).
Barcelona won both legs of this fixture last season. The first leg of this current Laliga EA Sports campaign also ended 4-3 in favor of the Blaugrana.
Barcelona’s defense of their La Liga title is going differently than planned, as they find themselves in the third position behind Girona and their arch-rival, Real Madrid. Xavi’s team has experienced setbacks in two league matches this season against teams currently leading the table.
Barcelona have poor results in the cup competitions this season, losing 4-1 to Real Madrid in the Supercopa de España and 4-2 in extra time to Athletic in the Copa del Rey. However, the Blaugrana won Real Betis 4-2 in their last league match. Due to their participation in the Spanish Super Cup, Barce has a game in hand. According to our 23/24 La Liga betting tips, Barcelona remains a contender for the title and continues the fight for the UCL title, facing Napoli in round 16.
Inigo Martinez and Raphinha are the latest injury woes for Barcelona, joining Joao Cancelo with a knee injury. Ter Stegen, Balde, and Alonso are also still unavailable for Xavi’s team.
Villarreal secured a European spot last season with a 5th-place finish. However, their position at 14th in the La Liga standings reflects a significant dip in form, marked by 11 losses this season. The Yellow Submarine is now 21 points away from the top 4. Since returning from the winter break, they have yet to secure a victory in any competition. Although eliminated from the Copa del Rey by third-tier Unionistas earlier this year, they managed a 1-1 draw against Mallorca in their latest league encounter.
Sidelined players for the Yellow Submarine are Alfonso Pedraza, Ramon Terrats, Jeremi Pino, and Dani Parejo.
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Barcelona is a huge favorite to win this encounter on home turf against the struggling Villarreal side. The Blaugrana’s two losses in the league this season came against teams above them in the standings. They’ve had decent results against the low-bottom side. The Yellow Submarine has won just a game in their last seven league matches. Putting them just five points above relegation.
In contrast, Barca has lost just one match in their last nine league matches, with two cup defeats since the turn of the new year. We expect Xavi’s team to outclass their visitors with more than one goal margin. You can bet on Barcelona to triumph with your favorite bookmakers.
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Despite Barca’s fine form, they are defensively vulnerable. In eight out of their last ten games, Barcelona and Villarreal have witnessed outcomes with both teams scoring. This trend was evident in Barcelona’s match against Real Betis, where they surrendered a two-goal lead before securing victory. The first leg of this fixture also resulted in a thrilling seven-goal encounter with a 4-3 scoreline. With such patterns, it’s anticipated that both teams will find the net in this upcoming clash.
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Ferran Torres has netted 7 goals in 19 matches this season, one behind the club’s top scorer, Lewandowski. His tally for the season spiked to seven with his hat trick against Real Betis last weekend. The Spanish has scored four goals in his last two appearances for the club. He joined as a 63rd-minute substitute in the first leg against Villareal and scored five minutes later. Torres’ phenomenal form makes him a favorite player to net again in the match.
Here are our Barcelona vs Villareal betting picks:
We expect a comfortable and comprehensive win for Barca to close the gap at the top. You can catch the game on live stream and win extra cash with our Barcelona vs Villareal betting tips by staking on any online bets.
