Next Sunday, 20th of March 2016, the current league leaders, FC Barcelona, will travel to the Comunidad Valenciana to measure forces with Marcelino Toral’s mighty Villarreal CF at El Madrigal for Round 30 of the Spanish Liga BBVA.
Luis Enrique’s FC Barcelona put up another impressive display of power when they hosted Getafe CF at Camp Nou last weekend. The Catalan team outclassed the visitors and easily won the match by 6-0 with Neymar, Leo Messi and Arda Turan showing once again why they are considered to be some of the best footballers in the Old Continent.
Los Azulones’ resilience only lasted nine minutes and from that moment onwards Barça were in full control of the operations. Messi, who missed from the penalty spot very early in the match, netted his team’s fourth goal of the day (his 22nd of the season) with a powerful effort from outside the box that offered no chance to Getafe’s goalkeeper, Vicente Guaita.
The Madrid outskirts’ team was an extremely fragile opponent that didn’t offer FC Barcelona any competition on a match where there was even time for a splendid overhead kick goal by Arda Turan.
Next Sunday, however, FC Barcelona’s visit to El Madrigal will certainly not be a walk in the park. In the city of Vila-real, Province of Castellón, dwells a club that is superbly managed by Marcelino Garcia Toral, one of the most impressive head coaches of Liga BBVA these days.
Villarreal CF have already caused major upsets to both Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid when they visited El Madrigal this season and they are certainly hoping to apply the same type of treatment to the leaders, FC Barcelona, that are on an impressive streak of 37 matches without a single defeat. Submarino Amarillo’s wonder boy Denis Suárez, who has been heavily linked with a move to FC Barcelona next summer, has recently claimed that his team fears no one and he recalled some of the impressive results Villarreal have achieved so far this season.
Marcelino Toral’s men have failed, however, to claw a single win in their last three league matches and last weekend’s defeat against Sevilla FC might have caused some heavy damage in the team. Former Spanish sharpshooter Roberto Soldado is back to Toral’s list after missing last round’s match due to suspension, while Mateo Musacchio and Jaume Costa are still doubts out there due to injury.
As for FC Barcelona, Luis Suárez, who stayed in the bench against Getafe CF last weekend, is on the verge of suspension and if he picks up a yellow card out there, he will miss the upcoming match against Real Madrid. Sergio Busquets and Javier Mascherano should, on the other hand, make their way to the starting line-up next Sunday, after missing last round’s fixture due to injury and suspension respectively.
FC Barcelona clawed a hard to get 1-0 win when they visited El Madrigal last season thanks to a late goal by Sandro Ramirez and they will certainly struggle to get a good result next Sunday as well. That being said, this might probably be Barça’s strongest line-up for upcoming fixture against Villarreal CF.
Goalkeeper
After the midweek UEFA Champions League match where Marc André ter-Stegen was FC Barcelona’s number 1, Claudio Bravo will surely made his way back to the team for the difficult clash against the Submarino Amarillo.
Defence
After losing last round’s match due to suspension, Javier Mascherano will certainly pair with Piqué at the centre of the defence line with Dani Alves and Jordi Alba taking care of the wings, as right back and left back respectively.
Midfield
Sergio Busquets is fully recovered from a minor injury and he will probably be the midfield line pendulum playing alongside Arda Turan and Iniesta. The experienced Spanish midfielder, however, is reportedly struggling with a muscle injury, and for that reason he might start the match on the bench. If that comes to happen, Ivan Rakitic will probably occupy his position as the team’s deep-lying playmaker.
Forward
Neymar ended his goal drought against Getafe CF last weekend and he will surely play alongside Leo Messi up front next Sunday.
Their usual companion, Luis Suárez, will probably start the match on the bench in order to prevent him from picking an unnecessary yellow card out there, that would automatically exclude him from the big upcoming fixture against Real Madrid. Munir El Haddadi will probably take his place in FC Barcelona’s attacking trident.
(4-3-3)
