Followers of the Spanish La Liga have an action-packed weekend ahead, with all the competition’s top teams shooting for three points. Barcelona hosts Villarreal from 17:30 GMT on Saturday evening in an intriguing game broadcast live on television and the best live streaming apps. But which team will collect all three points before a capacity crowd and millions more La Liga fans watching worldwide? You can make predictions at 22Bet, with over 100 pre-game and in-play betting markets available.
Armchair fans will hope for more of the same after these sides served up a seven-goal thriller in La Liga back in August. Barcelona was the away team for that game but nicked the points thanks to a stunning 4-3 final score in a game that swung back and forth. Will we see plenty more goals and talking points in Saturday’s renewal? Keep reading as our Spanish football expert previews the game, checks the odds, and offers his predictions.
Barca treble
Barcelona is the La Liga defending champions, but they’ve not had things all their way this season, with the Spanish giants starting the week down in third place. They enter this game with their stats for the campaign so far, reading 13 wins, five draws, and two defeats with 40 goals scored and 24 conceded in 20 games. Barca has collected 44 points which places them behind current leaders Girona on 52 points, with Real Madrid second in the pile on 51 points. That gap means Barcelona must get a move on if they are to reel in the pace-setters and get their campaign back on track.
The home team sets up with confidence following three impressive wins on the bounce. They are also unbeaten in four, following a 1-1 draw away to Valencia with three La Liga wins on the spin. They worked hard to beat Almeria 3-2 at the end of last year and build on those foundations by beating Las Palmas 2-1 on the road and Real Betis 4-2 at the weekend. The home team is flying, and this test comes at the best possible time for Barca.
Villarreal winless in three
Villarreal face the unenviable task of visiting the home of the champions on Saturday primetime. They must plan a way to beat one of the best teams in Europe on their patch and do so before a huge crowd cheering on the hosts. It won’t be easy, but Villarreal knows anything is possible at this level, and they are a match for any Spanish opponent when playing at their best. Will Villarreal make life difficult for their hosts? Silencing the crowd could give them an edge here.
Villarreal started the week in 14th place, with their stats showing five wins, five draws, and 11 defeats, with 28 goals scored and 42 conceded. They have 20 points on the board, which is just five better than the relegation zone, meaning the away team has pressure on their shoulders to deliver. They’re winless in their last three, losing back-to-back league games before earning a draw at home to Mallorca on Saturday, with that game ending 1-1. Another share of the spoils would be a good result for Villarreal.
Barcelona vs Villarreal prediction
Barca holds all the aces here. They are the home team and will benefit from the support of the crowd. They are higher in the league and also have the better recent form, winning their last three games and now facing an opponent without a win in three. Will that form translate into a home win for Barcelona? Many respected pundits believe so.
Villarreal has it all to do here and may see the value in playing for a draw at the Camp Nou. The longer they can keep the scores at 0-0, the more frustrated the home fans become, and that will soon filter onto the pitch and the players. Villarreal must be organised, competitive, and energetic in this game.
La Liga odds
The pre-match betting odds on Barcelona vs Villarreal are available to all 22Bet members using the website or mobile site, and you can gamble at the touch of a button. Fancy the home win? Why not back Barcelona for the three points at odds of 1.35? Prefer the underdogs? You can back Villarreal to spring a surprise at 7.87 or try your luck on the draw with a level finish trading at 5.72.
In addition to the match-winner betting odds, 22Bet members can access a long list of specials. There’s something for everyone and all betting budgets, including both teams, to score, handicap, and total goals. You can even predict which player will net the first goal of the game.
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