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Why Is Pedri Not Playing Tonight for Barcelona vs Villarreal?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Emmanuel Mendez | Last updated Dec 21, 2025 9:03 AM ET

FC Barcelona will be playing against one of the best teams in La Liga so far this season, Villarreal. Villarreal are third with 35 points and will have the home advantage since the match against Barcelona will be played at the Estadio de la Cerámica.

Barcelona's manager, Hansi Flick, has guided the team to six consecutive wins across all competitions, and they top the league table with 43 points, one point above second-place Real Madrid.

Barcelona could make a huge step forward in extending the gap between them and the rest of the teams in the league table with a win over Villarreal, but they will have to do it without arguably their most important player in the squad, Pedri.

Pedri has played in the last six matches for Barcelona and provided four assists across the past six games.

During mid-week, Barcelona played against a third-tier Spanish team, CD Guadalajara, in the Round of 32 of the Copa Del Rey. The Spanish midfielder did not start the match, but he came on in the 75th minute and played for around 18 minutes.

Pedri of FC Barcelona in action during the Spanish Cup, Copa del Rey, Round of 16 football match played between CD Guadalajara and FC Barcelona at Estadio Pedro Escartin Stadium on December 16, 2025 in Guadalajara, Spain. (Photo By Irina R. Hipolito/Europa Press via Getty Images)

Pedri not starting was likely to be given rest for the number of games he has played over the course of this season, but he is not ruled out for the match against Villarreal today.

Why Pedri is Not Playing against Villarreal?

There were reports in Spain suggesting that Pedri experienced mild pain in his leg, where he was injured in October keeping him out for a month. FC Barcelona and their manager Hansi Flick confirmed that Pedri will not play against Villarreal.

Flick said, "Pedri is out for the game tomorrow. He has discomfort in his quadriceps, there's a high risk of injury, and losing him for 2 months. We won't take the risk. He'd be available for the Espanyol game."

FC Barcelona also stated that Pedri is expected to be back for their next match against Espanyol, which is on January 3, 2026.

FC Barcelona: "First-team player Pedro González, Pedri, will miss the match against Villarreal CF as a precaution due to mild muscle discomfort. The player is expected to be available for the next match against RCD Espanyol."

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

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