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(Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Barcelona vs. Villarreal Lineups, Preview

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Supratim Banerjee | Last updated Feb 28, 2026 6:43 AM ET

FC Barcelona will host Villarreal CF at the Spotify Camp Nou on Saturday for the LaLiga Week 26 Matchup.

Barca will enter Saturday's game in a confident mood, having picked three wins and suffered two losses in their last five games across all competitions. Last weekend they crused past Levante with a 3-0 victory.

Hansi Flick's side is currently sitting at the top of the LaLiga table with 61 points in 25 games. And after Real Madrid's 2-1 loss against Osasuna last weekend, the Catalan club now has the chance to move four points clear with a win against Villareal.

The Yellow Submarines have also been on a strong run, with three wins, one draw and one loss in the last five games. They will also enter Saturday's game in a confident mood after thrashing Valencia to a 2-1 win last weekend. Marcelino's men are currently sitting third in the LaLiga table with 51 points in 25 games.

How & Where to Watch Barcelona vs. Villarreal

Barcelona will face Villarreal at the Spotify Camp Nou on Saturday, February 28. The match is scheduled to kick off at 10:15 a.m. EST (3:15 p.m. GMT).

The match will be broadcast live on ESPN Deportes and Movistar. Fans can also stream the game live on ESPN+, LaLigaTV, FanCode, and Movistar+.

Injuries

Frenkie de Jong adjusts his football boots during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD2 match between FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys (Photo by Alex Caparros - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

The Blaugrana will be without Frenkie de Jong, who has suffered a hamstring injury and is sidelined for the next six weeks. Flick's side will also be without Gerard Martin, as the young defender is suspended for the game due to yellow card accumulation. However, the good news for Flick's side is that Pedri is back from injury and could feature in Saturday's game.

The Yellow Submarine, on the other hand, has quite a few injury concerns ahead of Saturday's trip to Camp Nou. Gerard Moreno is doubtful for the Barca clash due to a muscle injury. Juan Foyth is sidelined with a knee injury and won't be available for this game. Villarreal will also miss Willy Kambwala, Logan Costa, and Pau Cabanes due to injuries.

Predicted Lineups

Barcelona:

Goalkeeper: Joan García
Defenders: Jules Koundé, Pau Cubarsí, Eric García, João Cancelo
Midfielders: Pedri, Marc Casadó, Fermín López
Forwards: Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski

Villarreal:

Goalkeeper: Luiz Junior
Defenders: Santiago Mourino, Renato Veiga, Pau Navarro, Sergi Cardona
Midfielders: Tajon Buchanan, Pape Gueye, Santi Comesaña
Forwards: Georges Mikautadze, Nicolas Pepe, Alberto Moleiro

Prediction

Both teams faced each other 57 times, with Barca winning 35, Villarreal winning 12, while the rest 10 games ended in a draw. The last time meeting between Barca and Villarreal came in December 2025 and the Catalan side won 2-0.

Barcelona are the clear favourites for their clash vs. Villarreal. Yamal and Co. are expected to extend their strong run with another win on Saturday and cement their position as the league leaders.

Considering the club's recent form, Villarreal is expected to give a tough fit at the Spotify Camp Nou on Saturday. Marcelino and his men will aim to hold Barcelona at bay and try to salvage atleast one point with a draw, if not claim all three with a win. However, a loss today could all but end the Yellow Submarine's title hopes.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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