BSports - Latest Sports News & Updates

Barcelona and Villarreal lock horns in a huge LaLiga encounter at the Camp Nou on Saturday evening.The Catalan giants will be looking to strengthen their grip at the top of the table, while third-plac...

Barcelona vs Villarreal – Match preview and team news

Barcelona and Villarreal lock horns in a huge LaLiga encounter at the Camp Nou on Saturday evening.

The Catalan giants will be looking to strengthen their grip at the top of the table, while third-placed Villarreal arrives with confidence after recent back-to-back victories.

Barcelona vs Villarreal – Match preview and team news

Date: Saturday, 28th February
Kick-off: 3:15pm BST
Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona
Referee: Isidro Díaz De Mera
VAR: Mario Melero
Last meeting: Villarreal 0-2 Barcelona, LaLiga, 21st December

Barcelona team news

Barcelona have been dealt a significant blow with the confirmation that midfielder Frenkie de Jong will be sidelined for up to six weeks after sustaining a hamstring injury that he picked up during a recent training session, adding to Hansi Flick’s midfield concerns.

Andreas Christensen is still out for an extended period with a hamstring issue. Defender Gerard Martin will miss the match due to suspension from accumulated yellow cards.

On a positive note, midfielder Gavi has returned to training following a knee injury that has kept him out since August, although he is not anticipated to return to match action until March.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick, who will reach his 100th match in charge of the Catalan club, emphasised the importance of maintaining focus ahead of the international break and stated that “These two weeks have been important; it all comes down to how you play the game, especially against a great rival like Villarreal. We have seven games until the international break and it would be good to win.”

Villarreal team news

The Yellow Submarine will be without several players for the trip to Catalonia. Defenders Logan Costa, Willy Kambwala, Gerard Moreno, Juan Foyth and Pau Cabanes are all confirmed absentees.

Villarreal defender Santiago Mourino emphasised his team’s ambition to claim all three points at Camp Nou, highlighting Barcelona’s high defensive line as a potential vulnerability.

“We have to beat them and close the gap. It’s a difficult game. They’ve won all their home games. We have to play as equals. They’re a brave team that leaves spaces, we have to take advantage of those chances. We have great strikers and need to be clinical to win. We are one of the best teams in La Liga to play on the counter. If we are accurate, we can do well,” Mourino noted in a pre-match press conference

Form

Barcelona

Hansi Flick’s side bounced back from consecutive defeats against Atletico Madrid and Girona to register an emphatic 3-0 victory over Levante at Camp Nou last weekend.

Barcelona currently sit top of La Liga with 61 points from 25 matches, one point ahead of second-placed Real Madrid. A victory would temporarily extend Barcelona’s lead to four points, with Madrid scheduled to play Getafe on Monday night.

Villarreal

Currently sitting third in La Liga, Villarreal trails Barcelona by ten points but arrive at Camp Nou in excellent form. The visitors secured a 2-1 home victory over Valencia last time out, with Santi Comesaña and Pape Gueye finding the net at Estadio de la Ceramica.

Notably, Villarreal have triumphed in their last two away matches at Barcelona’s home ground, recording memorable 3-2 and 5-3 victories in May 2025 and January 2024 respectively, giving them genuine confidence heading into this encounter.