Xavi has announced the line-up for his second league game as Barcelona coach. The former midfielder seems to stick to his 3-4-3 system from the midweek match with Benfica (0-0). Abde Ezzalzouli starts for the first time under Xavi in the base. At Villarreal, the Dutch-international Arnaut Danjuma starts as usual in the base. Kick-off at the Camp Nou is at 9 p.m.
In last week’s match against Espanyol (1-0 win), Xavi surprisingly chose Ilias Akhomach as right winger. However, the 17-year-old attacker failed to impress, while his replacement Ezzalzouli left a better impression. The latter can therefore show it from the starting signal on Saturday evening. Jordi Alba seems to be used again as a left winger. Sergiño Dest was expected by some in the starting line-up, but the right back starts on the bench. He had back problems in recent weeks and already returned against Benfica with a short substitute.
Ousmane Dembélé already came in useful against Benfica and is also in the match selection on Saturday evening. Apparently Xavi does not think the Frenchman is yet ripe for a base place, because he starts on the bench. Sergi Roberto, Ansu Fati, Martin Braithwaite, Pedri and Sergio Agüero have been absent for a long time and will therefore not be present on Saturday.
Barcelona has an unprecedented good record against Villarreal: the Catalans have remained unbeaten in the last 26 (!) mutual encounters. The last defeat to Villarreal dates back to early 2008, when Barcelona lost 1-2 at home. Barca are currently seventh and need to win to keep up with the spots that entitle them to Champions League entry. Villarreal also needs the points badly, because el Submarino Amarillo is disappointingly eleventh.
Barcelona line-up: Ter Stegen; Araújo, Pique, Garcia; Frenkie de Jong, Busquets, Nico González, Gavi; Ezzalzouli, Depay, Alba
Villarreal line-up: rulli; Foyth, Albiol, Pau Torres, Pedraza; Capoue, Trigueros, Parejo; Moi Gomez; Yeremi, Danjuma
| No. | Team | m | W | G | V | +/- | Pnt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Real Madrid | 13 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 30 |
| 2 | Real Sociedada | 14 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 29 |
| 3 | Seville | 13 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 28 |
| 4 | Atletico Madrid | 13 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 26 |
| 5 | Rayo Vallecano | 15 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 24 |
| 6 | Real Betis | 14 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 24 |
| 7 | Barcelona | 13 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 20 |
| 8 | Athletic Club | 14 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 20 |
| 9 | Valencia | 15 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 19 |
| 10 | Osasuna | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | -4 | 19 |
| 11 | Espanyol | 14 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 17 |
| 12 | Villarreal | 13 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 16 |
| 13 | Celta de Vigo | 15 | 4 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 16 |
| 14 | Real Majorca | 14 | 3 | 6 | 5 | -8 | 15 |
| 15 | Alaves | 14 | 4 | 2 | 8 | -8 | 14 |
| 16 | Granada | 14 | 2 | 6 | 6 | -8 | 12 |
| 17 | Cadiz | 14 | 2 | 6 | 6 | -11 | 12 |
| 18 | Elche | 14 | 2 | 5 | 7 | -9 | 11 |
| 19 | getafe | 14 | 2 | 3 | 9 | -9 | 9 |
| 20 | Levante | 14 | 0 | 7 | 7 | -13 | 7 |