LALIGA EA SPORTS fans are in for a treat on Matchday 26 as Villarreal CF aim for their fourth win in five games away at Barça.
LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 26 features one of the most entertaining matchups in Spanish football, as FC Barcelona are set to host Villarreal CF at the Spotify Camp Nou on Saturday. A 3-0 victory over Levante UD allowed Los Azulgranas to make the most of Real Madrid’s 2-1 loss away at CA Osasuna by returning to the top of the table. Marc Bernal netted the opener early in the first half, with Frenkie de Jong doubling FC Barcelona’s lead before the break and Fermín López putting the game to bed late in the second half. Click this link https://a.meridianbet.ke/c/C7pYjz to start gaming and stand a chance of winning big with Meridianbet.
Meanwhile, Villarreal CF grabbed a 2-1 comeback victory in the regional derby against Valencia CF to retain third spot in the standings, three points ahead of fourth-placed Atlético de Madrid and 10 behind leaders Barça. Largie Ramazani put Los Che ahead midway through the first half, but El Submarino Amarillo fought back and netted twice before the break through Santi Comesaña and Pape Gueye to turn the game around.
A duel promising goals and entertainment
Considered one of the most fascinating matchups in the league, an FC Barcelona vs Villarreal CF never fails to deliver. In fact, the upcoming matchup is one of the highest-scoring LALIGA EA SPORTS duels over the years as two or more goals have been scored in 21 of the last 22 games between the two teams. Their last five clashes have seen an average of 5.6 goals, with their last goalless draw dating back to 2012. FC Barcelona have netted 43 goals in their last 14 home games against Villarreal CF, who have found the back of the net as many as 10 times in their last four visits to Catalonia.
Making history in Barcelona
The Catalan capital has not always been a welcoming place for Villarreal CF, as El Submarino Amarillo didn’t manage a single win at FC Barcelona between 2009 and 2020. During that stretch, two games ended in a draw before Barça went on a 10-match winning streak that saw them score 33 goals and concede just seven.
Yet, tables have turned over the last five seasons, with Villarreal CF grabbing three historic victories in four games away at FC Barcelona. Goals from Alfonso Pedraza and Moi Gómez saw them escape with a 2-0 win on May 2022 before Barça took their revenge with a 3-0 victory courtesy of a brace by Robert Lewandowski and an Ansu Fati goal before the break.
What followed was two more historic victories by Villarreal CF, who became the first visiting team to net five times in the league away at FC Barcelona since 1963. More impressively, they did so through five different players, with Gerard Moreno, Ilias Akhomach, Gonçalo Guedes, Alexander Sørloth and José Luis Morales scoring one each in 5-3 victory at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in Montjuïc two seasons ago.
Their third victory away at FC Barcelona in four seasons came last term, with Ayoze Pérez scoring early before goals from Lamine Yamal and Fermín gave the hosts a one-goal lead at halftime. The hosts had most of the ball in the second half, but Villarreal CF were clinical enough to escape with a 3-2 win thanks to goals from Comesaña and Tajon Buchanan.
The two teams have already met once this season, with FC Barcelona beating Villarreal CF 2-0 on the road back on Matchday 17. Raphinha put his team ahead from the spot and the visitors made the most of their numerical advantage following Renato Veiga’s sending off to net a second through Lamine Yamal, who sealed the victory at Estadio de la Cerámica. It now remains to be seen whether Villarreal CF will manage to strike back by grabbing their fourth victory in five games away at FC Barcelona.
