Barcelona, without the injured Pedri and Araújo, without the suspended Raphinha and with the desire for Robert Lewandowski to make his debut this season, faces his visit to Villarreal with the aim of expanding his great statistics at La Cerámica, where he has scored the last fourteen seasons, so as not to lose the wake of Real Madrid against a rival that is looking for its first points at home after losing on the first day against Betis.
To play a match against an opponent who likes to pamper the ball, Xavi has opted to play with four midfielders and several changes in defense.
Even without a natural right-back - Joao Cancelo is expected to arrive this week - Xavi has recovered Sergi Roberto. The defense is completed by the newly registered Marcos Alonso in the left lane - Balde continues with discomfort in his left ankle - and Koundé and Christensen in the rear axis.
Without Pedri, Xavi is committed to placing De Jong, Oriol Romeu, Gündogan and Gavi. The latter as a false left winger in attack. In front they will play Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski.
The FC Barcelona coach will opt for a starting team made up of: Ter Stegen, Sergi Roberto, Koundé, Christensen, Marcos Alonso, Oriol Romeu, Gündogan, Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal.
Quique Setién's men will fight to add a package victory that would remove the doubts generated during the preseason by beating Barcelona and reinforce the victory achieved last week in Mallorca.
For this match, the main novelty at Villarreal is the return to the squad of the Spanish international Yeremy Pino, who has been out due to injury in the last month, although he has barely completed two training sessions with the group, so he starts from the bench .
In contrast, the veteran central defender Raúl Albiol has already spent two weeks training without problems, once his injury has been overcome. However, Setién continues to bet on Jorge Cuenca.
Villarreal's eleven: Jorgensen; Foyth, Gabbia, Cuenca, Pedraza; Terraces, Parejo, Capoue; Gerard Moreno, Sorloth and Álex Baena.
The only casualties that Setién has are those of the winger Alberto Moreno, who was injured on the first day, and that of the midfielder Francis Coquelin.
