🔥 Our Hot tip

Barcelona to win

Barcelona, who have won 15 of their last 16 league games, clinched the La Liga title in midweek and Hansi Flick’s side should enjoy playing without pressure against Villarreal.  

Barcelona lock horns with Villarreal at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Spain’s La Liga on Sunday, 18 May. Read our La Liga predictions for the clash below.

Barcelona vs Villarreal prediction: Buoyant Barca to triumph

Key Stats

  • Barcelona have claimed 28 of the last 30 points available to them on home soil.
  • Five of Barcelona’s last seven home games in La Liga have featured over 2.5 goals.
  • Raphinha scored twice when Barca beat Villarreal 5-1 in September.
  • Six Villarreal players were carded when the Yellow Submarine last faced Barca in September.

Correct score prediction: Barcelona 4-2 Villarreal

Barcelona scored four goals in three of their last five home games in La Liga, while their last three encounters with Villarreal averaged a staggering 7.00 goals, so expect excitement here.

Place your bet on this prediction at bet365.

Pre-game odds and win probability: Barca are keenly priced

  • HOME: 17/10 (2.70) – 37%
  • DRAW: 29/10 (3.90) – 25.6%
  • AWAY: 13/5 (3.60) – 27.8%

*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change

Barcelona secured the La Liga title with a 2-0 win at local rivals Espanyol in midweek and though there is a short turnaround between games, they are an attractive prospect at 17/10 to win again here.

Villarreal have won four games on the spin in La Liga, though they profited from a favourable run of fixtures during that surge and the visitors have only a 27.8% chance of upsetting the odds on Sunday. View more of our free football predictions and La Liga analysis on our dedicated page.

Most recent H2Hs: Fixture has produced goals

Barcelona won their reverse fixture with Villarreal 5-1 in September, and that was the fourth time in five previous encounters between the clubs that have produced over 2.5 goals.

Spain La Liga 22/09/24

Villarreal

Villarreal

1
Barcelona

Barcelona

5

Spain La Liga 27/01/24

Barcelona

Barcelona

3
Villarreal

Villarreal

5

Spain La Liga 27/08/23

Villarreal

Villarreal

3
Barcelona

Barcelona

4

Spain La Liga 12/02/23

Villarreal

Villarreal

0
Barcelona

Barcelona

1

Spain La Liga 20/10/22

Barcelona

Barcelona

3
Villarreal

Villarreal

0

Barcelona preview: Martinez available after suspension

Jules Kounde, Ferran Torres, Dani Rodriguez and Marc Bernal are injured for Barcelona, though defender Inigo Martinez is back from suspension and could feature. Alejandro Balde, Pau Cubarsi and Fermin Lopez will all be pushing to start.

Predicted lineup: Szczesny (GK), Garcia, Araujo, Christensen, Balde, De Jong, Pedri, Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha, Lewandowski

Spain La Liga 11/05/25

W

Real Madrid

Real Madrid

3

Barcelona

Barcelona

4

UEFA Champions League 06/05/25

L

Inter Milan

Inter Milan

4

Barcelona

Barcelona

3

Spain La Liga 03/05/25

W

Valladolid

Valladolid

1

Barcelona

Barcelona

2

UEFA Champions League 30/04/25

D

Inter Milan

Inter Milan

3

Barcelona

Barcelona

3

Spain Copa del Rey 26/04/25

W

Real Madrid

Real Madrid

2

Barcelona

Barcelona

3

Villarreal preview: Four out for visitors

Kiko Femenia, Raul Albiol, Thierno Barry and Ilias Akhomach are in the treatment room for Villarreal and will miss Sunday's game. The visitors (5th) are five points clear of Real Betis (6th) and can seal Champions League qualification with the right results this weekend.

Predicted lineup: Junior (GK), Navarro, Foyth, Costa, Pedraza, Gueye, Parejo, Pepe, Baena, Pino, Perez

Spain La Liga 10/05/25

W

Girona

Girona

0

Villarreal

Villarreal

1

Spain La Liga 03/05/25

W

Osasuna

Osasuna

2

Villarreal

Villarreal

4

Spain La Liga 27/04/25

W

Espanyol

Espanyol

0

Villarreal

Villarreal

1

Spain La Liga 23/04/25

L

Celta Vigo

Celta Vigo

3

Villarreal

Villarreal

0

Spain La Liga 20/04/25

D

Real Sociedad

Real Sociedad

2

Villarreal

Villarreal

2

Player to watch – Dani Olmo

When fit and firing, Dani Olmo is an incredibly productive performer for Barcelona. The attacking midfielder has chipped in with nine goals and three assists in 13 starts in La Liga this term.

Olmo is a big goal threat

Olmo has been providing a goal involvement every 98.3 minutes in La Liga this season, making him one of the division’s most effective players in the final third and the 27-year-old, who nabbed another assist against Espanyol in midweek, can take centre stage again on Sunday.

la liga betting tips

Simon Winter is a professional football tipster and sports journalist with over ten years in the industry. Best known for his time with Racing Post, Simon has also had work published by Freesupertips, Bloomberg Sports, bet365, Paddy Power, Colossus Bets, These Football Times and more. Simon covers the Bundesliga and Serie A for Football Whispers.