FC Barcelona and Villarreal face each other on matchday 37 of LaLiga EA Sports with Hansi Flick's team in full celebration of the domestic treble. For its part, the 'Yellow Submarine' is one win away from securing its qualification for the next Champions League. Despite having secured the title the previous matchday, the 'Culés' will not take their foot off the gas.
And Barça still has several records to 'shoot' for this 2025 in La Liga. On the one hand, to close the best second half of the season in its history, after achieving a streak of 17 games undefeated (15 wins and 2 draws).
In addition, the team wants to say goodbye to Montjuïc with a victory, considering that this will be their last home game at the Lluís Companys. So far, Flick's team has 15 wins and 3 losses this season at home, all of these defeats in the first half of the season.
Another important aspect that the 'Culés' are looking for is to surpass the barrier of 100 goals scored in LaLiga, a goal that they have not reached since 2016/17, with Luis Enrique on the bench and the 'MSN' in attack.
Barça seeks its 28th victory of the championship and the 16th of the second round
In that sense, Barça seeks to prolong an impressive streak this 2025 that allowed them to take the title with two matchdays to spare.
The Catalans were 7 points behind Real Madrid on matchday 20 and ended up taking the same advantage over the 'merengues' at the end of the season.
The victory in the Clásico of matchday 35 (4-3) was decisive to sentence the tournament, although the title had to wait one more matchday, until the Catalan derby against Espanyol (0-2) to be consummated. In total, Flick's team has 27 wins, 4 draws and 5 losses, the last of them on matchday 18 against Atlético (1-2).
| Team | MP | PTS | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barcelona (C) | 36 | 85 | 27 | 4 | 5 | 97 | 36 | 61 |
| R.Madrid | 36 | 78 | 24 | 6 | 6 | 74 | 38 | 32 |
| Atlético | 36 | 70 | 20 | 10 | 6 | 60 | 27 | 33 |
In its time at Montjuïc, Barcelona managed to lift three titles this season (League, Cup and Super Cup), after a blank season that confirmed Xavi Hernández's farewell to the 'Azulgrana' bench. In La Liga, the balance is 30 wins, 1 draw and 6 losses in 37 appearances, with 3 losses in each season.
This 2025, only Getafe (0-0) and Betis (1-1) were able to take points from Barça in La Liga. In the first round, the 'Culés' won by a landslide at the Estadio de la Cerámica (1-5), in a match remembered for Ter Stegen's serious injury where Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha scored twice.
Last 5 matches of FC Barcelona in LaLiga
- 🟢 0-2 against Espanyol in Cornellà (matchday 36)
- 🟢 4-3 against Real Madrid in Montjuïc (matchday 35)
- 🟢 1-2 against Valladolid in Pucela (matchday 34)
- 🟢 1-0 against Mallorca in Montjuïc (matchday 33)
- 🟢 4-3 against Celta in Montjuïc (matchday 32)
Facing them will be a Villarreal that also arrives in a good moment to matchday 37. Marcelino García's team has 4 wins in a row and only needs one more victory to secure their qualification for the next UEFA Champions League. The last time the 'Castellonenses' were in the top European club competition was in 21/22, reaching the 'semis'.
At the moment, the 'Yellow Submarine' has 64 points, five more than Betis (sixth with 59). A draw in Barcelona can also help the team from La Cerámica to reach the Champions League, as long as the 'Verdiblancos' do not win in their visit to Atlético de Madrid.
Last 5 matches of Villarreal in LaLiga
- 🟢3-0 against Leganés in Villarreal (matchday 36)
- 🟢0-1 against Girona in Montilivi (matchday 35)
- 🟢4-2 against Osasuna in Villarreal (matchday 34)
- 🟢1-0 against Espanyol in Villarreal (matchday 33)
- 🔴3-0 against Celta in Balaídos (matchday 32)
Hansi Flick will not save anything for the Barça-Villarreal: Will there be a gala XI in Montjuïc?
Despite having already secured the Liga title, Hansi Flick does not plan to put a team of substitutes against Villarreal. Although he opened the door, in the pre-match press conference, to the possibility of putting 11 youth players on the field, the manager's idea is to put the best possible team to close the season at home with a victory.
In principle, it is likely that Ter Stegen will have minutes again instead of Szczesny, while Ronald Araujo should also remain in the XI, this time as a companion of Iñigo Martínez. The Basque rested last matchday due to suspension.
As for the full-backs, Eric García would again be in charge of replacing the injured Jules Koundé, while Alejandro Balde, already recovered from his physical problems, will be on the left. Another who will remain untouchable in the lineup is Pedri González, owner of the 'Azulgrana' midfield.
The most likely is that the Canary Islander will be accompanied this time by Gavi, while Fermín López is also shaping up as a starter. This would give Frenkie de Jong and Dani Olmo the day off, while Marc Casadó and Pablo Torre, who have already been medically cleared, should add minutes in the second half.
In attack, the 'LRL' should remain in the absence of Ferran Torres (injured) and Lewandowski's need to add goals to return to the fight for the 'Pichichi'. The Pole remains as Kylian Mbappé's escort (27), a couple of goals behind in attack.
Therefore, it is very likely that Lamine Yamal and Raphinha will do their best to constantly look for the '9', who has not scored since matchday 29 against Girona (he scored a double in the 4-1 win). Pau Víctor and Ansu Fati could add minutes in the second half.
In that sense, Flick will put a team with a majority of starters and a clear message: the season has not culminated and, beyond the title, the time to relax will be on vacation, after the duels against Villarreal and Athletic.
Villarreal will seek to win in Montjuïc for the second consecutive year
Similarly, Villarreal is looking for a new victory in Montjuïc, since last season they managed to thrash Xavi's team (3-5). The defeat in January 2024 was the beginning of the end of the 'Egarense' cycle at Barça, a match that the 'Culés' were winning 3-2 with eight minutes to go.
In addition, Marcelino's team has improved a lot in defense, with three clean sheets in the last four matchdays. The matches against the 'Azulgrana' team, however, are usually very open and it is likely that in the match of matchday 37 there will be many goals, as happened in the first round in La Cerámica.
Ayoze Pérez will be the main offensive weapon of a 'Yellow Submarine' that will have its entire arsenal available to surprise in Catalonia. The Spanish striker has 18 goals, a couple less than Ante Budimir (20) and hopes to climb to the podium of scorers in the final stretch of the tournament.
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