Barcelona vs Villarreal prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2022-10-19 19:00.
Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy produced yet another award winner, with Gavi securing the title of the world’s best under-21 player at the Ballon d'Or ceremony, in what was the only highlight of a disastrous week for Barcelona. A second successive demotion to the UEFA Europa League looks imminent after a 3-3 draw with Inter, while a 3-1 El Clásico defeat just a few days later saw them relinquish top-spot in La Liga (LL) to bitter rivals Real Madrid. Now with a run of three league games against sides pushing for European spots starting with the visit of Villarreal, boss Xavi will be desperate to regain Barça’s winning touch to silence murmurs questioning his job suitability.
Barcelona certainly won’t be taking Villarreal lightly having been sunk by the Yellow Submarine in this corresponding fixture last season. A proud record of having not lost consecutive LL home H2Hs since November 2000 is on the line this time, and if Barça can maintain their unbeaten start (W3, D1) and perfect defensive record at home in LL so far this season they will avoid falling to such a feat.
Villarreal have ensured knockout European football with four-straight wins in continental action, but their domestic fortunes have been indifferent. After the highs of a joint-best four-game start to a top-flight campaign, the visitors have slumped to just one win from their five LL games since (W1, D2, L2). Despite that hiccup, Unai Emery’s side still have the best defensive record in LL this season with just three goals conceded, while six clean sheets indicates they could prove frustrating for the hosts.
Extending that record may require a massive effort though, as Villarreal have kept just two clean sheets across 22 LL H2H visits to the Camp Nou. Failure to score in four straight LL away games threatens to undermine their chances here though, as this is Villarreal’s worst such goalless away run since September 2011 (five), a sequence that ironically included a 5-0 drubbing here!
Players to watch: Ousmane Dembélé scored Barcelona’s opener in their last home match and his four goal contributions (G2, A2) against Villarreal have all come at this venue. Villarreal’s José Luis Morales could be praying for a turnaround of fortunes having lost in his five previous away LL starts at Barcelona.
Hot stat: Five of Villarreal’s last six away LL games were goalless at the break.