Barcelona will be looking to sustain their momentum when they host a depleted Villarreal. It will be a test for Luis Enrique’s side as Villarreal are currently on a three-match winning run and are very much in the contention for a European berth next season. Barcelona have relatively easy fixtures after this match so they have to cash in from this match as their archrivals Real Madrid will be visiting Granada who are already relegated.
The fact is that Lionel Messi’s ban has been lifted would give the Argentine a more free mind. Messi was suspended for using ‘foul words’ towards an assistant which led to his ban. But now his ban has been overturned and Messi can follow this judgment by giving a stupendous performance against one of the consistent teams of La Liga this time.
Villarreal are in almost in the same kind of situation as Barcelona. The Spanish club is reeling at the fifth place and although a Champions League place is seemingly impossible they have to take their chances. Defeating Barcelona at home is difficult but not impossible and a number of clubs have done it before.
Team News And Predicted Lineups
Barcelona
Luis Enrique will be very glad to welcome Andres Iniesta who has been on the sidelines for a brief period. Iniesta is expected to start alongside Ivan Rakitic who has been the in-form player in the past few weeks. Villarreal have an excellent defence and Barcelona need to take control of the midfield to put pressure on them.
Ter Stegen; Roberto, Pique, Umtiti, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta; Messi, Suarez, Neymar
Villarreal
The Spanish club will be without defender Victor Ruiz. First choice keeper Sergio Asenjo and winger Denis Cheryshev will be the other absentees.
Andres; Rukavina, Musacchio, Alvaro, Costa; dos Santos, Trigueros; Soriano, Samu; Bakambu, Sansone
Key Players
Barcelona
Lionel Messi
It has been Messi who has taken the responsibility on his shoulder to guide Barcelona in the last few seasons and once again the onus will be on him to get past a stringent Villarreal side. The lifting of his ban should work as a motivation for him and he needs to be at his best as Villarreal have the second best defence right now in the La Liga.
Villarreal
Cedric Bakumbu
Barcelona defence has had few torrid moments in this season and if given a chance, Bakumbu will try to utilise it. He has so far scored nine goals in the Spanish top tier and would be hoping to add a few more.
