Villarreal Vs Barcelona Betting Tip: Villarreal or Draw – 5 July 2020

Yellow Submarine capable of sinking faltering Barca

Bruno Soriano / Villarreal ©imago images / ZUMA Wire 28.06.2020

Villarreal Vs Barcelona

Sunday 5 July 2020 – 21:00 Kick-Off
Spanish La Liga
Pick: Villarreal or Draw (Double Chance)
Odds: 23/20
Bookmaker: 888Sport
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 2 July 2020)

Preview: Possibly the standout fixture of the entire weekend in Europe, but certainly in Spain, as this in-form Villarreal side seek to compound Barcelona‘s post-lockdown woes at Estadio de la Ceramic where, in 2018/19, these sides shared eight goals in a pulsating affair that ended 4-4.

Spanish La Liga Betting at 22Bet

 

Villarreal Preview – Top-four well and truly back on the cards?

The Yellow Submarine (5th – 16 D6 L11) appeared to be submerged in mid-table obscurity when La Liga was suspended in early March, when a run of three successive defeats hampered some resurgent form. The resurgence is well and truly back on, though, after winning five out of six league games since returning to action to surge into fifth place, where they now trail fourth-placed Sevilla and the Champions League places by three points.

Unfortunately for head coach Javier Calleja, his team face arguably the toughest run-in of all the sides currently in the hunt for European qualification, with Getafe (6th), Real Sociedad (7th) and even La Liga pacesetters Real Madrid still to come in their final five matches of this protracted season. And then, of course, there is this weekend’s eagerly-anticipated clash at de la Ceramica with this faltering but supremely talented Barca outfit.

In the reverse fixture, at Camp Nou, Villarreal were extremely unfortunate to lose 2-1, after restricting the Catalans to just 0.57 in xGF whilst creating marginally more themselves (0.56). So are clearly capable of competing against Messi & Co. but especially now, with their form since the restart sensational. Interestingly, all five of their wins in this time were to nil, showcasing the huge improvements made defensively.

 

Both Teams To Score/Over 2.5 Goals
10/11

Boylesports

 

Barcelona Preview – Only a win will do after recent slip-ups?

A nightmare restart for Quique Setien and his Barcelona (2nd – W21 D7 L5) charges, surrendering so much impetus in the title race to a Real Madrid side displaying very few weaknesses and possessing the easier run-in of the two title protagonists. Experienced defender Gerard Pique recently lamented how his team would have to win its remaining fixtures to stand any chance of retaining their title. Even that feels speculative.

Barca simply don’t control games like they once used to, despite invariably monopolising possession. Teams rip through them, particularly on the counter attack, and with a surprising amount of ease. That has to be of huge concern ahead of facing an in-form Villarreal accustomed to hitting teams on the break. Since the La Liga resumption, the Blaugrana have won just 50% of its matches (W3 D3).

Meanwhile, a 4-0 romp in Mallorca in their first match post-break remains their sole win in three such fixtures on the road (W1 D2), having been held at Seville (0-0) and even lowly Celta Vigo (2-2) recently. The latter occurred last weekend and was followed by another frustrating 2-2 scoreline, this time at home with Atletico Madrid, which, coupled with Real Madrid winning in midweek, puts them four points off top spot.

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Villarreal Vs Barcelona Betting Advice

This fixture has to be giving Barcelona manager Quique Setien a great deal of anxiety, as this is arguably tougher than any his team has faced since the restart. Atletico Madrid in midweek was a tough proposition, as always, but was at home, where Barca have produced their better football over the course of 2019/20. Sunday’s fixture, conversely, is away to a side in tremendous form, with Villarreal boasting five wins from six matches to inject new life into their push for Champions League football.

 

Villarreal Vs Barcelona – Key Facts

  • Since the restart, Villarreal have gone six matches unbeaten in La Liga, winning five (all without conceding a goal), and have collected 16 out of 18 points.
  • During the same period Barcelona have failed to win three of their six matches (W3 D3), conceding exactly two goals in each of the last two.
  • Villarreal last registered a La Liga victory over Barcelona in 2008 (D6 L15 since then) but would play their part in an eight-goal thriller in last season’s corresponding fixture, drawing 4-4 at home.

 

Laying Barca away from home has proved very profitable so far this season, therefore odds of 23/20 about the hosts avoiding defeat are very enticing. As is the 5/2 (888Sport) about a home win Draw No Bet. A more conservative bet, however, has to be goals, as while Villarreal have tightened up considerably since the restart, this is still Barcelona, and I suspect both teams, who have a lot riding on this outcome, will go all out for maximum points.

Best Betting Odds – Villarreal Vs Barcelona

Villarreal – 4/1 (Bet365)
Draw – 3/1 (Betway)
Barcelona – 8/11 (Ladbrokes)