Welcome back to TalkBarca. Today, we are going to have a look at Barcelona vs Villarreal Match Preview. Another tough fixture is ahead of us. Coming back from a defeat is going to be even tougher. Barcelona need proper composure and confidence to overcome this challenge.
Villarreal currently sits at 7th on the points table. They are one position ahead of us as Barcelona is at 8th. Furthermore, Villarreal also has 8 points whereas Barca have 7. This shows that this is a must-win fixture and Barcelona needs to pull it off at any cost.
Moreover, rumors also claim that Valverde can be sacked if Barcelona loses this game. Therefore, we can expect much better and sensible lineup and tactics tonight. So, without any delay, let’s have a look at our Match Preview.
BARCELONA VS VILLARREAL MATCH PREVIEW
As usual, we will start our match preview with the kick-off time and squad for this fixture. Then, we will move on to the expected lineups and score prediction. Let’s dive into it!
Kick-Off Timings:
The kick-off for Barcelona vs Villarreal will be coming to us at 9 PM as per local time from the Camp Nou. You can have a look at the image below and check the kick-off timings for your respective country.
Squad For Barcelona vs Villarreal:
The full squad for this upcoming fixture is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Ter Stegen and Neto.
Defenders: Semedo, Lenglet, Pique, Junior Firpo, and Todibo.
Midfielders: Sergio, Arthur, De Jong, Vidal, Alena, and Roberto,
Forwards: Griezmann, Suarez, Messi, Dembele, and Ansu Fati.
We can see that Alena and Dembele are part of the squad again. Hopefully, this is a sign of good things coming back to our club again.
Players Not Included in the squad: Jordi Alba and Samuel Umtiti miss out the fixture because of injury issues. Meanwhile, Rakitic is dropped for better options, and Perez heads back to B team on the comeback of Dembele.
EXPECTED LINEUP:
Goalkeeper:
Ter Stegen is expected to start in goal. Obviously, there is no better option other than him at this position and undoubtedly, MATS is currently one of the best Goalkeepers in the world.
Center Backs:
Pique and Lenglet duo is likely to be the starter in this fixture as well. Not only this is the best Center Back duo we have, but, also injuries of players such as Umtiti have limited us to using only these two players in this position.
Left Back and Right Back:
Junior Firpo is perhaps the correct choice to play at the left back. His performance in the previous fixture was not pleasing at all. Still, as a fan’s point of view, I believe that he must be given 3-4 games to get settled and show his potential. Also, he is the only player in the squad that naturally fits at the left back.
Therefore, I expect Valverde to start him again in this game. Soon we can be able to jump to the conclusion if Firpo is really what fans think he is or is he just another overrated hype. On the other hand, Semedo is the most likely choice at Right back. Its good to see him coming back to full form and fans expect a lot of strong nerve and seniority from Nelson Semedo. We know how good he is and what he is capable of and it’s time for him to prove it.
Midfield:
Busquets, De Jong, and Arthur trio can be miraculous in our midfield. Busquets should start as a Holding midfielder with Arthur and De Jong working as central midfielders. This combination has shown real class in our previous crucial fixtures and if Valverde needs to prevent the last bit of respect the fans have for him, he must start with this combination.
It’s because Barcelona vs Villarreal is not going to be an easy game and we must have authority in our midfield to control the game. Valverde must play his best team and get 3 points at home to reduce the points deficient on League Table.
Wingers:
As written above, Valverde’s job is at stake now. Therefore, I believe that Griezmann is no longer going to play as a winger.
Instead, Ansu Fati is the most likely our left wing option. The 16 years old sensation has secured a place in the squad with extreme manner and it is great for a player so young to be playing such dominating football. Lionel Messi is the ultimate option to start at the Right wing and we really have a lot say about this position.
Striker:
Antoine Griezmann is the likely Striker to start the game. He must score goals. All we need from him is goals. That is why the club bought him and this is what he is lacking the most. Suarez can come on later as a super-sub and influence the game in a better way.
This is the expected lineup. I think if this lineup plays, this game can be a treat for the fans to watch. Speaking of treats, there is another huge fixture coming up on September 26th. Our arch rivals are taking on their rivals at the Bernabeau. Yes, you guessed it right. It is the Madrid derby this week and it is another game certainly not to miss.
However, coming back to our club, Barcelona. We need to play tight and must avoid mistakes. This is a tough season and we need to win it.
The Bench:
Our bench is pretty solid as well heading into this fixture. Firstly, Dembele is back in the squad which means he is fit to play. However, he is not likely to start the game simply because he has been out of action for quite a long time. He will be integrated into the squad slowly just like we saw with Messi. We may seem him in action in the second half as a substitution for Ansu Fati. His presence not only increases our options in the attack but also makes it more lethal.
Vidal is also likely to be on the bench. Alena is back too and he can come in the second half to get some minutes. Sergio Roberto is another player on the bench who can literally come on to replace any player due to his versatility. Neto, Todibo, and Luis Suarez are the other options on the bench.
Barcelona vs Villarreal Score Prediction:
I think Valverde is going to come with better tactics in this game. Furthermore, he must find a way to please the fans. Considering this game, it is certainly not easy for us. However, I still think that we will be able to win this game.
As far as score prediction goes, I believe that we can clinch a 3-1 win here. Home advantage will surely play a big part in the game.
Verdict:
So, that was all for Barcelona vs Villarreal Match Preview. What are your thoughts about this fixture? What lineup would you prefer? Do you think, Valverde will give us a better show tonight? Let us know in the comments down below. Until the Match Review, Visca El Barca!
