LaLiga

 

Teams: FC Barcelona v Villarreal

 

Date: 02 December 2018

 

Venue: Camp Nou

 

FC Barcelona return to the Camp Nou this evening as they host struggling Villarreal in LaLiga this evening.

 

The match is scheduled to get underway at 19h30.

 

The Catalan giants relinquished top spot last week after they drew 1-1 with Atletico Madrid and Sevilla defeated Real Valladolid.

 

Following the draw, Ernesto Valverde's men made the trip to the Netherlands, where they defeated PSV Eindhoven 2-0 in the UEFA Champions League.

 

Ivan Rakitic will be available for the defending champions after the Croatian missed the clash with Atletico through suspension.

 

Villarreal, meanwhile, have not enjoyed a season by their standards, as they only sit three points above the relegation zone.

 

If it wasn't for their win over Real Betis last weekend, the Yellow Submarine would still find themselves in the danger zone,

 

Villarreal were no match for Barca at the Camp Nou last season as a brace from Ousmane Dembele and further strikes from Lionel Messi, Coutinho and Paulinho secured a 5-1 win for Valverde's men.

 

Here's how they line up:

 

Barca: Ter Stegen; Semedo, Piqué, Lenglet, J. Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Arturo Vidal; Dembélé, Messi, Coutinho 

 

Villarreal: Asenjo; Mario, Álvaro, Víctor Ruiz, Pedraza; Cáseres, Trigueros, Cazorla, Fornals, Chukwueze, Gerard Moreno.