Villarreal vs Barcelona Prediction & Betting Tips - LaLiga

Prediction published on 03/07/2020, 00:22  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 03/07/2020 at 01:25 in LaLiga Predictions

Barcelona will have another chance to stay the title chase when they travel to Villarreal on Sunday. Going to the match, hosts Villarreal have so far managed 54 points and are in fifth place while Barcelona, in second place, have 70 points. A top four place is achievable for Villarreal, as they are just three points out and have had a fine run since the league returned from the forced break. Their top four target will have a big boost if they can win here and their recent run has been very encouraging. When the league took a break, Villarreal were on a poor run, with three straight losses but in the six matches after resumption, they have five wins and a draw. They have also improved massively in defence; in the last six matches, they have kept five clean sheets and go to this game on back to back clean sheets. Villarreal have also had a generally good run at home this season, losing just three of their 16 league games at their backyard. In nine of these 16 games, Villarreal have scored two or more but they have failed to keep clean sheets in 10. Having won two and drawn the other in three home matches since the league returned, Villarreal will take motivation from this run. They have five losses in the last six meetings with Barcelona, and going to this game as the form team, the hosts will look at this as a perfect time to rise.

Barcelona have lost a lot of ground in their chase for the league title. They are now four points behind table toppers Real Madrid and their recent performances have not been very inspiring. In their past four matches, Barcelona have dropped points against two top four sides – Atletico Madrid and Sevilla, and have also come short against relegation threatened Celta Vigo. They had to dig deep to register a 1-0 win over Athletic Club which was their only victory in the last four matches. While Villarreal have five wins in six matches since the league returned, Barcelona have three wins and three draws. The Catalans have showed defensive frailties in their last two matches, conceding four goals, and facing a Villarreal side that has scored in 16 of their last 17 league matches will see the visitors really tested.