Arguably the standout fixture in the third game week of the 2023-24 La Liga season will take place on Sunday afternoon, with Villarreal welcoming Barcelona to Estadio de la Ceramica.
Barcelona have picked up four points from their first two matches of the campaign to sit sixth in the table, while Villarreal are 10th, boasting three points from their opening two games.
Match preview
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Villarreal suffered a 2-1 home loss to Real Betis on the opening weekend of the new campaign, but they managed to return to winning ways last time out at Mallorca.
Gerard Moreno's 62nd-minute effort proved to be the difference between the two sides in Palma, with Villarreal now off the mark for the new season; not too much can be made of the league table at this stage, but they occupy 10th position with three points, one point behind Barcelona.
Quique Setien's side finished fifth in La Liga last season, meaning that they will compete in the group stage of the Europa League this term.
Villarreal were seven points behind fourth-placed Real Sociedad in the table in 2022-23, so there is work to do in terms of the Champions League spots, but it has been a very productive summer transfer window, with seven new players arriving to boost the squad.
The Yellow Submarine lost twice to Barcelona last season, including a 1-0 defeat in the corresponding match in February, while they have been beaten in seven of their last eight league affairs with the Catalan outfit.
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Barcelona comfortably won the La Liga title last season, ultimately finishing 10 points clear of second-placed Real Madrid at the summit, but it would be a surprise to see them that far ahead this term.
Indeed, it has been a difficult summer in the transfer market due to their financial problems, with only Oriol Romeu, Ilkay Gundogan and Inigo Martinez being added to the squad, although there are expected to be a couple more incomings before the end of the window.
Xavi's side opened their La Liga campaign with a goalless draw against Getafe on August 13, but they managed to win last time out, beating Cadiz 2-0 at Camp Nou courtesy of goals from Pedri and Ferran Torres.
Pedri has since joined Ronald Araujo on the sidelines, with the team missing two vital players early in the campaign, while there is a lack of firepower following Ousmane Dembele's departure; Robert Lewandowski is capable of hitting excellent numbers, but there is so much pressure on him to fire.
Ignoring Barcelona's excellent record against Villarreal, this will be a very tough examination for the champions, who have another difficult game away to Osasuna ahead of the international break.
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Team News
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Villarreal will again be without the services of Alberto Moreno and Francis Coquelin, while Yeremy Pino remains a huge doubt for the home side in this match.
Head coach Setien will have been delighted with what he saw against Mallorca, so it would not be a surprise to see the same XI take to the field for the first whistle here.
Pino's absence opened the door for Ben Brereton Diaz to start last time out, and he will be bidding to keep his spot alongside Alexander Sorloth and Gerard Moreno in the final third.
Denis Suarez and Ilias Akhomach will be determined to play some part against their former club, although it is likely that both players will be on the bench for the first whistle.
Barcelona, meanwhile, will again be without the services of Raphinha, with the Brazil international serving the second of a two-game ban following his red card against Getafe.
Araujo is missing with a hamstring problem, while Pedri has a thigh issue, with both players expected to be on the sidelines until the early stages of October.
Martinez is also on the sidelines with a foot injury, and he has still not been registered by La Liga.
It may again be a 3-4-3 formation for Barcelona, with Lamine Yamal, 16, keeping his spot in the side, while Pedri's place could be taken by Torres, who netted off the bench against Cadiz.
Villarreal possible starting lineup:
Jorgensen; Foyth, Gabbia, Cuenca, Pedraza; Terrats, Parejo, Baena; G Moreno, Sorloth, Brereton
Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Ter Stegen; Kounde, Christensen, De Jong; Yamal, Romeu, Gundogan, Balde; Gavi, Lewandowski, Torres
We say: Villarreal 2-2 Barcelona
Barcelona found it difficult against Getafe on the opening weekend of the season, and this has the potential to be a very difficult game for Xavi's side. Villarreal have a lot of talent all over the pitch, and we are actually backing a high-scoring draw in Sunday's contest.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
