The League does not stop and now it’s time to visit the Ceramic Stadium. The culés face a new league match corresponding to the 32nd day of the championship, where Koeman’s men will visit the Villarreal (Sunday, 4.15pm). After a good victory against Getafe, the Catalans will try to close the week with a new victory that allows them to continue depending on themselves to win the League.
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The rival
Villarreal, qualified for the semi-finals of the Europa League, comes to the duel after losing on the last day against Alavés (2-1), and is 7th in the standings, fighting for the European positions. The set led by Unai emery has Gerard MorenoHe is the third top scorer in the championship with 20 goals, as the main offensive threat, but he also has other important players such as Parejo, Pau Torres, Sergio Asenjo, Albiol, Manu Trigueros or the former Barça player Paco Alcácer, among others.
Trainer: Unai Emery
Classification in the League: 7th (49 points)
Balance in the League: 12V-13E-7D
Top scorer in the League: Gerard Moreno (20 goals)
Exculés in the team: Paco Alcácer
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The precedents
Barça and Villarreal already met in the first round at the Camp Nou in what was the first official match of the season for the Catalans. Koeman’s men thrashed (4-0) with goals from Ansu Fati (2), Messi and Pau Torres own. Relive the summary of that meeting:
Regarding the last visits to La Cerámica, the matches have been accompanied by scoring festivals: last year, 1-4 (Pau Torres in his own, Suárez, Griezmann and Ansu Fati) and two seasons ago, a spectacular 4-4 ( Coutinho, Malcom, Messi and Suárez).
The Barca
The azulgrana team arrives at a great moment after winning the Copa del Rey against him Ahtletic Club and thrashing the Getafe (5-2) in the last week. Thus, the Catalans continue to depend on themselves to be League champions and they need to keep winning to continue in the leading positions.
For this meeting, Koeman has decided to summon the following players: Ter Stegen, Dest, Piqué, R. Araujo, Sergio, Griezmann, Messi, O. Dembélé, Riqui Puig, Neto, Lenglet, Pedri, Trincao, Jordi Alba, Matheus, S. Roberto, F. De Jong, Umtiti, Junior, Ilaix Moriba, O. Mingueza and Arnau Tenas. Dembélé and Neto have received medical discharge and are the main novelty for this duel.
They lose the game due to injury, then, Braithwaite, Coutinho, Ansu Fati and Pjanic, with some discomfort in the right knee.
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