Will Barca go without conceding another goal on the east coast?

The reigning national champions FC Barcelona had already dropped points for the first time in the goalless draw at Getafe to start the season, but then struck back in the subsequent home match against Cadiz. The Blaugrana were again without conceding a goal in the 2-0 win. If Villarreal beat Barcelona, the Catalans’ next clean sheet would be the first time since the 2017/18 season (when they were still under Ernesto Valverde) that they have not conceded any goals in the first three league games of a season.

In principle, it is also anything but absurd that the Catalans once again play to zero on the Spanish east coast. Already last season Barca won both duels with Villarreal at a total of 4-0 goals, after all. Apart from that, the forecast for Villarreal against Barcelona goes very clearly to a point win for the guests. After all, the Yellow Submarine hasn’t taken the full three points against FCB in 14 home games (four draws, ten defeats).

Villarreal, moreover, fluffed Betis Sevilla 2-1 in their very first home game of the young season. This left the Yellow Submarine winless (one draw, one loss) in their season-long second consecutive home game in La Liga. At least last weekend, however, the team from Spain’s east coast managed its first three-goal win in a 1-0 away victory in Mallorca. Offensively, however, only two goals have been scored in two league games.

Accordingly, it is coherent to combine the bet that the defensively strong Blaugrana will also score in the Estadio de la Cerámica with the tip on under 3.5 goals. Even in the second year under coach Xavi, the Catalans have little to burn defensively, while offensively a single goal can make all the difference

Villarreal – Statistics & current form

Villarreal Club de Fútbol finished the 2022/23 season in fifth place in La Liga. Thus, the yellow submarine (Spanish: “el submarino amarillo”) missed the renewed qualification for the Champions League, which they achieved two years ago as the overall winner of the Europa League.

But at least in the second most important European competition for club teams, the team from the Valencian Community in eastern Spain may compete again this season. Quique Setién’s team has already qualified for the group stage and will be in the first pot when the draw is made on September 1.

Winless in two straight home games for the season

Despite this, there has been quite a bloodletting in the transfer market. The East Spaniards had to let go with, among others, Nicolas Jackson, Pau Torres and Samuel Chukwueze several key players who have not really been adequately replaced so far.

The first matchday also showed that the competitiveness might have suffered under the transfer window, in which a hefty profit of almost 100 million euros was generated. The yellow submarine was beaten 2-1 by Betis Sevilla at its own stadium. This makes it two home games in a row without a win in La Liga over the course of the season.

Won only one of last 21 La Liga games against Barcelona

Although the team from the east coast of Spain did manage to get their first three-goal haul of the young season on the second matchday when they played away at Mallorca (1-0), with perennial star Gerard Moreno scoring the golden winning goal in a very ponderous game. In the run-up to the clash between Villarreal and Barcelona, however, the odds on another victory for Setién’s troops are decidedly poor.

After all, there was rarely anything to be gained against the Blaugrana recently. After the yellow submarine won three duels in a row against the Catalans between 2007 and 2008, there has only been one further Villarreal victory among the following 28 encounters in La Liga (six draws, 21 defeats).

Predicted Villarreal lineup:

FC Villarreal (Expected lineup) 4-3-1-2

Barcelona – statistics & current form

At the end of the 2022/23 season, FC Barcelona secured the national championship in Spain for the 27th time in history and the first time in four years, with a ten-point lead over Real Madrid.

The success was first and foremost a defensive success. The Catalans conceded just 20 goals in 38 league games. That equates to an average of just 0.52 goals conceded per game in La Liga.

Still unbeaten after two matchdays and without conceding a goal

After the horrendous investments last summer, the Catalans have also generated a transfer plus this time, but were able to secure the services of stars like Ilkay Gündogan and Inigo Martínez on a free transfer, which is why the quality in Xavi’s squad remains high.

The defensive compactness of the Blaugrana also remained unaffected, who have once again remained without conceding a goal in the first two league games. For the first time since 2017/18 (then under Ernesto Valverde), FC Barcelona could remain entirely without conceding a goal in the first three league games of a season.

Not lost at Villarreal in 14 La Liga guest appearances

Against the Yellow Submarine, Barca won both games without conceding a goal this past season. Moreover, at the Estadio de la Cerámica, there were 14 consecutive guest matches in which the defeat was avoided (ten wins, four draws).

Accordingly, it is interesting to bet on Villarreal against Barcelona that the Catalans will score again on the Spanish east coast, although the times when the FCB stood for rousing offensive soccer and goal festivals must probably be declared largely over, also in view of the many 1-0 victories in the previous season.

Predicted Barcelona lineup:

FC Barcelona (Expected lineup) 4-3-3

Villarreal – Barcelona Direct comparison / H2H balance

Head to head: 10 – 10 – 32

There have been a total of 52 meetings between the two teams so far and with 32 wins, FC Barcelona leads the head-to-head comparison very clearly. After Villarreal once recorded three wins in a row against the Blaugrana between 2007 and 2008, the Yellow Submarine has recently won only one of 28 duels in La Liga against Barca (six draws, 21 defeats).

Villarreal – Barcelona tip

Generally, the betting odds on Villarreal against Barcelona swing in the direction of the visitors, who have always enjoyed traveling to Spain’s east coast recently. At the Estadio de la Cerámica, the Blaugrana have not lost any of their last 14 guest games in La Liga (ten wins, four draws). Moreover, the Catalans remained without conceding a goal on the first two matchdays and, as in the championship season, impressed with the highest defensive compactness.

In Villarreal’s match against Barcelona, we are predicting a point for the visiting team, which did not manage more than a 0-0 draw at Getafe on the first matchday. Very consistent is therefore the double chance X2, which also includes this result. Since no goal festival is to be expected, the additional bet on less than 3.5 goals brings even more value to the betting slip.