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La Liga Preview: Barcelona - Villarreal
El Submarino Amarillo will be the first side to try and upset dominant Barca in 2010.
Jan 1, 2010 3:18:34 PM
Kick Off: Saturday, January 2, 2010. 20:00 CET
Camp Nou, Barcelona
Camp Nou, Barcelona
Utterly Dominant
There can be little question that the achievements completed by Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona squad over the course of 2009 were utterly unique. The Blaugrana swept to Spanish, European and world dominance with grace, style and flair, and now the Catalan giants face a daunting task as they try to replicate such feats in 2010.
Renewed pressure has come on their Liga crown from Real Madrid, who have closed to just a couple of points from the champions. Such pressure is unlikely to especially faze the talented Camp Nou crew, who seem to rise confidently to every challenge placed in their way.
Buccaneering full-back Dani Alves has no intention of allowing the side to let-up, stating earlier this week, “There is too much experience in the squad to relax. We are attentive and we will try to improve even more. If we continue to work, we will stay on the same path.”
The first hurdle that Barca will have to overcome since being crowned world champions in December will be Villarreal, but the beginning of 2010 promises to be a real test. Though not badly hit by departures to the African Cup of Nations, the Blaugrana face a punishing schedule, including a hat-trick of matches against Sevilla.
Guardiola will know the importance of getting the year off to a good start, especially with the form that los Blancos are starting to display, and he will doubtless have his players fully focused on success on Saturday evening.
Going Up
Now regularly fancied as European qualifiers, the first part of the Liga season was something of a letdown for fans of Villarreal, who would have watched their side scramble unconvincingly into a mid-table position.
There is, however, a distinct upward trend being displayed by Castellon club. Three league successes in succession have partially parried the blows dealt to the Yellow Submarine by an abject start and have allowed them to climb to ninth in the table.
Though victory in Barcelona is a tough objective, midfield talisman Marcos Senna has predicted that the club’s strong run can continue. “Things are going well after the last results," he noted to AS. “We have a lot of confidence for the future. It was important to win the last game of the year since we had two wins in a row, and it was our opportunity to escape from the relegation zone.”
Meanwhile, Cani wants to see Villarreal drawn upon strong past performances in the Catalan capital in order to achieve a strong result this time around.
“We have played well on the road against Barca in recent years but that does not mean we are assured of a positive result this time around. We have scored at the Camp Nou two years in a row so we hope to do the same again on Saturday,” he said, doubtless considering last term’s thrilling 3-3 draw.
FORM GUIDE
Barcelona
WON 2-1 aet (n) Estudiantes (Club World Cup, December 19)
WON 3-1 (n) Atlante (Club World Cup, December 16)
WON 1-0 (h) Espanyol (La Liga, December 12)
WON 2-1 (a) Dynamo Kyiv (Champions League, December 9)
WON 3-1 (a) Deportivo (La Liga, December 5)
Villarreal
WON 2-0 (h) Racing Santander (La Liga, December 20)
LOST 1-0 (h) Salzburg (Europa League, December 17)
WON 2-1 (a) Atletico Madrid (La Liga, December 13)
WON 3-2 (h) Getafe (La Liga, December 6)
WON 2-0 (a) Levski Sofia (Europa League, December 2)
TEAM NEWS
Barcelona
Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi may be rested by coach Guardiola, who is concerned about the number of matches already played this term by the Argentine genius. He has been excused training this week.
Seydou Keita and Jeffren are both injured and will not take part. Yaya Toure is already with the Ivory Coast side preparing for the African Cup of Nations.
Andres Iniesta has been training normally with the side since Wednesday.
Probable Starting XI: Valdes; Alves, Pique, Puyol, Abidal; Xavi, Sergio Busquets, Iniesta; Pedro, Ibrahimovic, Henry
Villarreal
Gonzalo Rodriguez will be sidelined for at least a fortnight with a hamstring problem, but he is the only injury issue for coach Ernesto Valverde.
Ariel Ibagaza is fit again.
Probable Starting XI: Diego Lopez; Javi Venta, Marcano, Godin, Capdevila; Cani, Senna, Bruno, Cazorla; Rossi, Nilmar
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Barcelona
It’s worth watching the whole Barcelona squad as they are such an effective unit, but it is Xavi that provides the grease and allows things to move in quite such a smooth motion. The midfielder has nearly everything in his armory so expect him to shoulder some of the burden if Messi is rested.
Villarreal
A slow start in Spain has not stopped Nilmar catching the eye of late. The former Olympique Lyonnais man is by no means the most prolific of scorers, but he will be an important figure whenever the visitors are allowed the chance to attack their opponents.
PREDICTION
Perfect thus far at home, Barcelona will face a tough examination against the Yellow Submarine so Saturday’s fixture may prove a game in which a rare stumble is possible. Don’t underestimate Barca’s strength in depth, an asset that should allow them to claim maximum points against a unit slowly regaining confidence.
Barcelona 2-1 Villarreal
Robin Bairner, Goal.com
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