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Barcelona logo
La Liga
Feb 1, 2015 at 8pm UK
 
Villarreal logo

3-2

Neymar (45'), Rafinha (53'), Messi (55')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Cheryshev (30'), Vietto (51')

Preview: Barcelona vs. Villarreal

Sports Mole previews the La Liga encounter at Camp Nou between Barcelona and Villarreal.

Barcelona will be looking for their eighth successive win in all competitions when they host Villarreal on Sunday.

Reports during the turn of the year had suggested that the Catalan giants were in turmoil, with coach Luis Enrique and striker Lionel Messi both being tipped for an exit from Camp Nou.

However, they are currently the form team in Spanish football, with Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez all contributing to an attack that has scored 26 goals since the start of 2015.

Barca remain without Jeremy Mathieu and Thomas Vermaelen, but goalkeeper Claudio Bravo will return after missing the Copa del Rey success against Atletico Madrid.

Villarreal go into the match having put together an excellent run of results that has seen them avoid defeat since November 6.

The Yellow Submarine have also kept four clean sheets in a row, and although they are the clear underdogs to earn a result against Barcelona, their team spirit and unity could help them cause a surprise at the weekend as they look to keep in the hunt for fourth place.

New signing Joel Campbell, who has joined on loan from Arsenal, may start on the bench after making his debut in the Copa del Rey victory over Getafe.

Barcelona:

Form in La Liga: DWLWWW
Form in all competitions: WWWWWW

Possible starting lineup: Bravo; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta; Suarez, Neymar, Messi

Villarreal:

Form in La Liga: WWDDWW
Form in all competitions: DDWWWW

Possible starting lineup: Sergio Asenjo, Musacchio, Mario Gaspar, Jaume Costa, Victor Ruiz, Bruno, Dos Santos, Moi Gomez, Trigueros, Uche, Vietto

Sports Mole says: 3-1


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Written by
Darren Plant
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Barcelona's Brazilian forward Neymar celebrates after scoring his second goal during the Spanish Copa del Rey (King's Cup) quarter final second leg football match Club Atletico de Madrid vs FC Barcelona at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid on January
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rhs 2.0
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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