MX23RW : Thursday, February 16 13:07:05| >> :60:431:431:
[monks data]
Feb 12, 2023 at 8pm UK at Estadio de la Cerámica
Villarreal
0 - 1
Barcelona

Torres (37'), Baena (49'), Parejo (62'), Moreno (71')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Pedri (18')
Araujo (43'), de Jong (56'), Kounde (58'), Raphinha (81')

How Barcelona could line up against Villarreal

How Barcelona could line up against Villarreal
© Reuters
Sports Mole looks at how Barcelona could line up in Sunday evening's La Liga clash with Villarreal.

Barcelona will be missing Ousmane Dembele and Sergio Busquets for Sunday's La Liga clash with Villarreal.

Dembele remains on the sidelines with the hamstring injury that he picked up against Girona at the end of last month, while Busquets was forced off in the early stages of the 3-0 win over Sevilla on February 5 due to an ankle sprain.

Busquets's absence is likely to see Gavi drop into a deeper position alongside Frenkie de Jong and Pedri, which would then open up a starting role in the final third of the field.

Raphinha was on the scoresheet against Sevilla last time out and should again play off the right, while Robert Lewandowski is a certainty, with the forward scoring 23 times during an impressive first season at the club.

Barcelona boss Xavi is not blessed with a number of options when it comes to the left-sided attacking spot, with Ferran Torres and Ansu Fati set to battle it out, and the start is likely to go to the latter.

The Catalan outfit do have a number of defensive players, though, with Marcos Alonso, Alejandro Balde, Sergi Roberto and Eric Garcia all starting on the bench against Sevilla.

Xavi is unlikely to make any alterations to his back four for this contest, so Jordi Alba should retain his spot on the left, with Jules Kounde operating as the right-back.

Barcelona possible starting lineup: Ter Stegen; Kounde, Araujo, Christensen, Alba; Pedri, De Jong, Gavi; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Fati

ID:506413:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect3653:No Data Analysis info
Game History

How you voted: Villarreal vs Barcelona

Villarreal
10.6%
Draw
10.1%
Barcelona
79.3%
217
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Barcelona president Joan Laporta pictured on August 5, 2022
Read Next:
Barcelona 'ordered to lower wage bill by £177m'
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona2118214373656
2Real Madrid21153344172748
3Real Sociedad21133531211042
4Atletico MadridAtletico21115530171338
5Real BetisBetis2110472722534
6Rayo Vallecano219662823533
7Athletic Bilbao219573122932
8Villarreal219482218431
9Osasuna218671919030
10Mallorca218491620-428
11GironaGirona216692731-424
12Sevilla216692329-624
13Real ValladolidValladolid2173111528-1324
14Celta Vigo2165102233-1123
15Almeria2164112534-922
16CadizCadiz215791733-1622
17Espanyol214982633-721
18Valencia2155112626020
19Getafe2147101828-1019
20ElcheElche2116141544-299

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Match previews - Daily
Transfer Talk Daily
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!