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2022/23 Spanish La Liga
Matchday 21
Villarreal CF v FC Barcelona
Estadio de la Cerámica
Villarreal, Spain
Sunday, 12 February 2023
Kick-off is at 22h00
Villarreal CF will lock horns with FC Barcelona in a
Spanish La Liga match at the Estadio de Mestalla on February 12.
Current Form
The Yellow Submarine were defeated 3-1 by Elche CF away on February 4 and they are winless in their last two matches in the league.
Villarreal also lost to Rayo Vallecano in their last game at home and the defeat ended their three-match winning streak at the Estadio de la Cerámica.
On the other hand, Barcelona thrashed Sevilla FC 3-0 at home on February 5 to extend their unbeaten run to 11 matches in La Liga.
Barca are also enjoying a five-match unbeaten run on the road having impressively registered five successive victories as the visitors.
What Is At Stake
Villarreal are in the race to finish in the top four and they are currently placed fifth on the league standings - four points behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid.
A victory over Barcelona would see the Yellow Submarine boost their top four hopes, but La Liga title contenders Barca are the most in-form team in the league.
Xavi Hernandez's side is eight points clear at the top of the league standings and they will be looking to widen the gap by defeating Villarreal.
Team News
Villarreal will be without several players who are injured namely, Alfonso Pedraza, Nicolas Jackson, Giovani Lo Celso as well as Filip Jorgensen.
While Barca's injury-prone French star Ousmane Dembele will be missing once again having picked up a hamstring injury last month.
Key Players
Gerard Moreno remains the Yellow Submarine's star player having scored the most goals (five) for the team in the league this season and he has also provided two assists.
Villarreal manager Quique Setién will have to come up with a plan to contain La Liga's top scorer Robert Lewandowski who has netted 14 goals in the competition.
Quotes
"We are building something very good, but nothing has been won. Only the Super Cup. We are hungry. Real Madrid can beat any team and they still have to come to Camp Nou," Xavi said after their win over Sevilla.
"Next matchday we go to a ground where Madrid lost (Villarrreal). Every game is going to be a war and it's not over yet. I don't see us as more of a favourite, but more of a candidate. The favourites are still Real Madrid, who are the current champions of La Liga and the Champions League.
"We have the capacity to win all the titles we have left, but we have to prove it on the pitch. Euphoria is fine, but it has to be curbed."
Image copyright: Getty Images
Head-to-Head
Barcelona thrashed Villarreal 3-0 in their last meeting in La Liga and the game was played at the Spotify Camp Nou on 30 October 2022.
Barca have lost once to the Yellow Submarines in their last 27 league matches with Villarreal's only win over Barcelona during this run coming on 22 May 2022 at the Spotify Camp Nou.
(Last Five La Liga Meetings)
Matches - 5
Villarreal - 1
Barcelona - 4
Draws - 0
Spanish La Liga matchday 31 fixtures
Friday, February
22:00 - Cadiz CF v Girona FC
Saturday, February 11
17:15 - Almeria v Real Betis
19:30 - Sevilla FC v Real Mallorca
22:00 - Valencia CF v Athletic Bilbao
Sunday, February 12
15:00 - Getafe v Rayo Vallecano
17:15 - Celta Vigo v Atletico Madrid
19:30 - Real Valladolid v Osasuna
22:00 - Villarreal CF v FC Barcelona
Monday, February 13
22:00 - RCD Espanyol v Real Sociedad
Wednesday, February 15
22:00 - Real Madrid v Elche CF
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