La Liga leaders Barcelona will make the trip to eighth-placed Villarreal this evening at Estadio de la Cerámica to play the last game of the day under the floodlights.
Barcelona are currently eight points clear at the top of the table and know that a win will extend this gap to 11 points ahead of second-placed rivals Real Madrid who last night won the Club World Cup in Rabat, Morocco.
Barcelona are in great shape and blistering form, having won all the last five matches in the league so they expect to keep that great run going tonight. On the other side, Villarreal are struggling to string positive results. They have only won two of the last five in the league.
While speaking to the press on Friday, Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez noted that Villarreal are a team who can easily beat them just like they beat Real Madrid a few weeks ago so this is going to be a big game.
“Every game is a big one and especially now. We could go 11 points clear of Real Madrid and that puts pressure on them. But no away game is an easy affair.
“Logically, we want the three points, but a lot will come down to who controls the ball. The more ball you have, the better your chance of getting points. We’ll try to be aggressive and demonstrate what good form we are in.”,
On the same day, Villarreal coach Quique Setién, who was in the Barcelona dugout a few seasons ago also faced the press and said that playing the leader is a big challenge but motivates them so much.
“We are playing against an extraordinary opponent, who are in a spectacular moment. We are aware that it will be a very difficult game.”
When asked how he will set up his team and what tactics he will use to beat them, the Yello Submarine coach responded: “FC Barcelona usually have more chances than their opponents. We have to secure the goal and be able to contain them. We want to be able to hurt them, let them see that we can play in the opposition half, find chances and score goals.”
Team news
Barcelona are without Ousmane Dembélé and Sergio Busquets due to injury while Villarreal are without Giovani Lo Celso, Nicolas Jackson, and Alfonso Pedraza.
