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Attendance: 73,003
Barcelona logo
La Liga | Gameweek 14
Dec 2, 2018 at 5.30pm UK
 
Villarreal logo

2-0

Pique (36'), Alena (87')
FT(HT: 1-0)

How Barcelona could line up against Villarreal

Sports Mole looks at how Barcelona could line up in this weekend's La Liga clash with Villarreal.

Barcelona will be looking to return to winning ways in La Liga when they welcome Villarreal to Camp Nou on Sunday night.

The Spanish champions have only collected one point from their last two matches to relinquish first spot in the table to Sevilla.

Barcelona's last match at Camp Nou was a 4-3 defeat to Real Betis, but Ernesto Valverde's side came from behind to draw with Atletico Madrid last weekend.

The Catalan giants will enter this game off the back of a win though, having overcome PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Travelling to Camp Nou is a Villarreal side that has collected just 14 points from their 13 league fixtures this season to sit in 16th spot.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Barcelona could line up in front of their own supporters this weekend.


POSS BAR XI vs. VIL

Out: Rafinha (knee), Thomas Vermaelen (hamstring), Sergi Roberto (hamstring), Luis Suarez (knee), Sergi Samper (calf), Jasper Cillessen (leg)
Doubtful: Samuel Umtiti (knee), Arthur (abductor tear)

Barcelona have a fairly extensive injury list at the moment, but the problem was not made worse in the win over PSV earlier this week.

Samuel Umtiti and Arthur are the only two who missed the midweek match that have a chance of returning to the XI this weekend.

Umtiti could take Clement Lenglet's position at the back in theory, but a troublesome knee problem is expected to see the Frenchman miss out again. Arthur, meanwhile, may come into the midfield in place of Arturo Vidal.

Luis Suarez will again miss out with a knee problem, meaning that Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho should join Lionel Messi in the final third.

However, Malcom and Denis Suarez are also forward options for head coach Valverde, who will be keen to return to winning ways in La Liga.

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Ousmane Dembele in action for Barcelona on September 18, 2018
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona18122450203038
2Atletico MadridAtletico17115131112038
3Real Madrid17114237162137
4Athletic Bilbao1896327161133
5Villarreal177642928127
6Mallorca188371821-327
7Real Sociedad177461611525
8Osasuna176742225-325
9Real BetisBetis176652021-124
10GironaGirona176472325-222
11Sevilla176471823-522
12Rayo Vallecano175661920-121
13Celta Vigo176382528-321
14Las PalmasLas Palmas175482227-519
15Leganes174671523-818
16Getafe173771114-316
17AlavesAlaves174491928-916
18Espanyol1743101629-1315
19Real ValladolidValladolid1733111234-2212
20Valencia162591424-1011


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