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.
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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
Barcelona
Spain La Liga 27/01/24
Barcelona
Villarreal
Spain La Liga 27/08/23
Villarreal
Barcelona
Spain La Liga 12/02/23
Villarreal
Barcelona
Spain La Liga 20/10/22
Barcelona
Villarreal
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
3
Barcelona
4
UEFA Champions League 06/05/25
L
Inter Milan
4
Barcelona
3
Spain La Liga 03/05/25
W
Valladolid
1
Barcelona
2
UEFA Champions League 30/04/25
D
Inter Milan
3
Barcelona
3
Spain Copa del Rey 26/04/25
W
Real Madrid
2
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
0
Villarreal
1
Spain La Liga 03/05/25
W
Osasuna
2
Villarreal
4
Spain La Liga 27/04/25
W
Espanyol
0
Villarreal
1
Spain La Liga 23/04/25
L
Celta Vigo
3
Villarreal
0
Spain La Liga 20/04/25
D
Real Sociedad
2
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.
