Villarreal vs Barcelona: probable lineups and absentees for the LaLiga match

Published New:20/12/2025 - 20:11h

Updated New:20/12/2025 - 20:11h

Villarreal and Barcelona face each other this Sunday on matchday 17 of LaLiga at the Estadio de La Cerámica. We review the possible lineups and absences of both teams

Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona face each other this Sunday in LaLiga EA Sports 2025/26 at the Estadio de La Cerámica (16:15 CEST), for the seventeenth matchday of the tournament. Hansi Flick's team arrives with three players out due to injury, in addition to Ronald Araujo, still absent after the leave requested by the player.

We review the possible starting lineup, the substitute bench, and the injured and suspended players for Hansi Flick's Barcelona for the match against Villarreal, the last official match of 2025. Complete analysis!

Possible Barça Starting XI against Villarreal

(#13, P) Joan García
(#23) Jules Koundé
(#18) Gerard Martín
(#05) Pau Cubarsí
(#03) Alejandro Balde
(#24) Eric García
(#21) Frenkie de Jong
(#16) Fermín López
(#10) Lamine Yamal
(#11) Raphinha
(#07) Ferran Torres

Barça Bench (substitute players)

(#01, GK) Marc-André ter Stegen
(#25, GK) Szczesny
(#09) Robert Lewandowski
(#14) Marcus Rashford
(#15) Andreas Christensen
(#17) Marc Casadó
(#22) Marc Bernal
(#26) Jofre Torrents
(#27) Dro Fernández
(#28) Roony Bardghji
(#43) Tommy Marqués

Injured Barça Players

(#06) Gavi
(#08) Pedri
(#20) Dani Olmo

Players out for personal reasons:

(#04) Ronald Araujo.

Suspended Barça players:

None.

Flick's Possible Surprises and Tactical Variations Against Villarreal

In principle, Hansi Flick plans to make a couple of adjustments to his XI against Osasuna (2-0), with Fermín López returning as an attacking midfielder. Frenkie de Jong could also return to midfield for the injured Pedri González

Goalkeeping and defense

Joan García will be in goal, while Jules Koundé and Alejandro Balde would be the full-backs. In the center of defense, Pau Cubarsí and Gerard Martín should remain in the middle. Ronald Araujo is out for personal reasons. Andreas Christensen and Jofre Torrents would await their chance on the bench. Ter Stegen will be on the bench alongside Szczesny.

Midfield:

As a pivot, Eric García is set to be Frenkie de Jong's partner in midfield, while Fermín López would be the team's attacking midfielder in place of the injured Dani Olmo. Marc Bernal is expected to get minutes in the second half. Marc Casadó would also be a substitute. Pedri González is also out due to injury.

Forward:

In attack, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha would complete the Blaugrana attack alongside Ferran Torres. The 'Shark'. Lewandowski and Bardghji would be substitutes this Sunday, as would Marcus Rashford.

Barça Absences: Which Players Will Miss the Villarreal Clash Due to Injury?

INJURED: This is Barcelona's infirmary against Villarreal

On Saturday, Barcelona confirmed the absence of Pedri González due to muscular discomfort. The midfielder has been experiencing issues with his left calf and will be out as a precaution, given the risk of a more serious hamstring injury. According to the official medical report, the '8' should be available for the first match of 2026, against Espanyol.

Dani Olmo, for his part, will be out for about a month after suffering a left shoulder dislocation just after scoring against Atlético. Pablo Gavi, on the other hand, continues with his post-operative recovery after injuring his right meniscus at the end of September

Ronald Araujo traveled to the Holy Land last week, as part of his emotional and mental recovery after being sent off against Chelsea. The 'charrúa' should return to training with the squad after Christmas. Robert Lewandowski, absent in Barça's last two games, will be available.

Possible Villarreal Lineup Against Barcelona

Probable XI: Luiz Júnior; Navarro, Marín, Veiga, Pedraza; Comesaña, Parejo, Buchanan, Moleiro; Mikautadze and Ayoze Pérez.
Bench: Tenas (GK), Conde (GK), Altimira, Solomon, Costa, Sierra, Valou, Maciá, Alassane, López, Pepé, Oluwaseyi.
Injured: Logan Costa, Juan Foyth, Willy Kampwala, Sergi Cardona, Santiago Mouriño, Thomas Partey, Gerard Moreno, Pau Cabanes.
Suspended: None.

Villarreal, for their part, arrive at matchday 17 with multiple key absences in defense and midfield. Pape Gueye and Illias Akhomach have left for the Africa Cup of Nations with their national teams, and furthermore, the team is carrying eight injury absences, including forward Gerard Moreno and defender Juan Foyth.

In that sense, Marcelino is likely to opt for **Rafa Marín and Renato Veiga** as center-backs, while Pau Navarro and Pedraza would be the full-backs. Luiz Júnior should remain in goal and, in midfield, the experienced **Dani Parejo** could partner Santi Comesaña.

Alberto Moleiro and Tajon Buchanan could play on the wings, while **Ayoze Pérez and the Georgian Georges Mikautadze** would be the forwards. The 'Yellow Submarine' has only lost a couple of league games and is third with 35 points, 8 behind Barça with 2 matchdays left, but they are coming off the back of being eliminated from the Copa del Rey by Racing de Santander (2-1)