FC Barcelona are in red hot form and making real strides in their chase for the LaLiga Santander title after increasing the gap to Real Madrid to eight points. Next up for Xavi Hernández’s side is a trip to Spain’s east coast to take on Villarreal CF on Sunday, when they will be facing an old friend in coach Quique Setién. Here’s why you won’t want to miss the match.

Barça are in relentless form

FC Barcelona are flying and in the best form of all clubs from Europe’s top five leagues, having won 10 of their last 11 matches in LaLiga Santander since losing to Real Madrid in ElClasico in October. They are currently on a five-game winning streak in the league, beating top sides such as Atlético de Madrid, Real Betis and Sevilla FC in that run. Barça have turned into a winning machine and, with Real Madrid contesting the Club World Cup this weekend, they have the opportunity to go 11 points clear at the summit. However, Villarreal CF have ambitions of their own and this trip to the Estadio de la Cerámica will be a real test of the leaders’ mettle.

A fascinating meeting of styles

Quique Setién has overseen a huge transformation in Villarreal CF’s style of play since succeeding Unai Emery in October, encouraging his new charges to switch from the quick transitions favoured by his predecessor to the positional play he has been known for throughout his career. After a rocky start, Setién’s work has been bearing fruit, the highlight being a 2-1 victory over champions Real Madrid last month. It was Setién’s devotion to possession football and the ideas of Johan Cruyff which led to FC Barcelona appointing him as their coach in January 2020. Setién never quite managed to get Barça to play how he wished, but he is rebuilding his career with El Submarino Amarillo and will relish the opportunity to try to get a result against his old side.

Two formidable defences face off

FC Barcelona are known around the world for their flair in attack, but this season their defence has taken a real step forward. Despite lots of changes in their back line over the summer, Xavi’s side have kept 15 clean sheets in their 20 matches so far. Two players have been particularly outstanding: Jules Koundé and Andreas Christensen. The Frenchman has excelled in the unfamiliar role of right-back while the Dane has been a rock at centre-back, proving especially pivotal to the team since the World Cup. Villarreal CF, though, boast the joint-second-best defence in the league, alongside Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid, thanks to the partnership of Raúl Albiol and Pau Torres, two defenders at opposite ends of their careers who complement each other so well.

This fixture has been producing five goals on average

Even though both sides have awesome defences, this game should produce goals. That has been the case in their recent meetings, with 20 goals having been scored over the past four Villarreal CF vs FC Barcelona games in LaLiga Santander, working out at an average of five goals per game. Over the Catalan side’s 22 LaLiga Santander visits to take on the team from Castellón, there has only ever been one 0-0 and only three 1-0 results. The overall average for goals in this fixture is 3.32, making this one of the most exciting duels on the Spanish football calendar.

Gerard Moreno vs Robert Lewandowski

One reason to believe there will be goals is the fact that this match will showcase two of the very best strikers in LaLiga Santander: Gerard Moreno and Robert Lewandowski. The Polish striker has hit the ground running in his debut season in Spain, scoring 14 goals to lead the race for the Pichichi, and he will have fond memories of the last time he faced Villarreal CF, scoring twice in a 3-0 victory at the Spotify Camp Nou in October. But, Villarreal CF also have an in-form and clinical forward, as Gerard Moreno has scored three goals and provided two assists in his last six matches since his return from injury. As well as being deadly in the box, the Spaniard is adept at linking up with his fellow forwards Yéremy Pino and Samuel Chukwueze.

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