Overview
This match promises many surprises as Villarreal and Barcelona are both in good form in La Liga, in the context of the tournament preparing to enter the winter break.
In La Liga alone, Villarreal have won all 6 recent matches, showing significant stability in the domestic arena. However, the overall form of the "Golden Submarine Boat" showed signs of slowing down when they lost 2 consecutive matches in the cup tournaments, respectively against Copenhagen in the Champions League and Racing Santander in Copa del Rey.
The La Liga match against Levante last weekend was also postponed due to a warning of heavy rain, which disrupted the team's performance.
After 15 rounds, Marcelino's team has 35 points (11 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses), ranked third, 4 points behind Real Madrid and Barcelona 8 points, and has 2 matches left to play.
Notably, Villarreal has the best defense in the league, having only conceded 13 goals - an important foundation before the confrontation with a Barcelona with strong attack but not really solid defense.
However, history does not fully support the home team. Villarreal have not beaten Barcelona at home in La Liga since October 2007, having won two of their last three league meetings.
On the other hand, Barcelona entered the match with great confidence. Hansi Flick's team just beat Guadalajara 2-0 in the King's Cup. They have also won all 7 recent matches in La Liga, thereby maintaining the top spot with 43 points after 17 rounds, 4 points more than Real Madrid.
Despite problems in defense, Barcelona's attacking power is undeniable, with 49 goals in La Liga, the most in the league.
The match at Villarreal will be an important test before the Catalan team enters the tight schedule in early 2026, including the derby with Espanyol and the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Personnel situation
Villarreal entered the match against Barcelona in the context of a serious squad crisis, when a series of key players were absent due to injuries and international obligations.
Prolonged injuries in defence and midfield, along with Pape Gueye and Ilias Akhomach having to attend AFCON, have significantly eroded the depth of the "Golden Submarine" squad.
A rare positive for Villarreal is the possibility of Dani Parejo recovering from a minor injury in time. If the experienced midfielder can start, he will play a key role in controlling the tempo and reducing the pressure on the defense against constant pressure from Barcelona.
In the context of a shortage of personnel, Villarreal's starting lineup is unlikely to have any surprises.
Ayoze Perez is expected to pair up with Georges Mikautadze in attack, while Tajon Buchanan will take on the role of wing attacker to take advantage of his speed and breakthrough ability.
On the other hand, Barcelona could not help but lose their force. Pedri is absent due to a calf injury, forcing Flick to consider the option of using Eric Garcia and Frenkie de Jong in midfield.
In addition, Gavi, Ronald Araujo and Dani Olmo are all unable to participate, causing the squad structure to lack the familiar flexibility.
Up front, Flick is facing important decisions. Robert Lewandowski and Marcus Rashford may not start.
Fermin Lopez is considered a suitable choice for the No. 10 role, supporting Ferran Torres - who will likely be given the opportunity to lead the attack in this challenging away trip.
Expected lineup:
Villarreal: Junior, Navarro, Foyth, Veiga, Cardona, Buchanan, Parejo, Comesana, Moleiro, Perez, Mikautadze.
Barcelona: J. Garcia, Kounde, Cubarsi, Martin, Balde, De Jong, E. Garcia, Yamal, Fermin, Raphinha, Torres.
The match between Villarreal and Barcelona takes place at 10:15 p.m. on December 21 (Vietnam time).
