Barcelona prepares for a crucial La Liga encounter with Villarreal following a narrow 2-1 loss to AS Monaco in the Champions League. Despite the defeat, coach Hansi Flick is confident that his squad will bounce back and deliver a strong performance at La Cerámica.
Hansi Flick's Pre-Match Comments
Ahead of the match, Hansi Flick addressed the media, reflecting on the Monaco loss and looking forward to the challenge against Villarreal:
On the Monaco loss:
"We analyzed everything and saw some good things against Monaco, but we lost in the end. We’ll take that learning into our preparations for Villarreal, but with the same desire and passion."On injuries and player availability:
Flick confirmed that Barcelona is missing several key players for the Villarreal game, including Frenkie de Jong and Gavi. However, he expressed optimism about the squad's depth:
"We have 8 players unavailable, but that's part of the game. Pedri and Marc Casadó are feeling better and are likely to play."On Eric García’s role:
Flick highlighted Eric García’s versatility:
"I currently see him as a No. 6, but he’s ready to play both as a central defender or in midfield."On Ansu Fati's form:
"Ansu has been working hard since his return from injury. We’ve been assigning specific trainers to help him get back to his best. I’m sure he can help us a lot."On Marc-André ter Stegen:
"Marc is essential to our style of play. He made a mistake, but it happens. What's important is that we continue to improve."
Barcelona's Recent Dominance Over Villarreal at La Cerámica
Barcelona has had an excellent run of form in their last five visits to Villarreal’s home ground, La Cerámica, winning all five matches:
- 2023/2024 — Villarreal 3-4 Barcelona ✅
- 2022/2023 — Villarreal 0-1 Barcelona ✅
- 2021/2022 — Villarreal 1-3 Barcelona ✅
- 2020/2021 — Villarreal 1-2 Barcelona ✅
- 2019/2020 — Villarreal 1-4 Barcelona ✅
With an unbeaten record at La Cerámica over the past five seasons, Barcelona will aim to continue their strong performances against Villarreal despite their current injury concerns.
Barcelona Squad for Villarreal Match
Hansi Flick has named his squad for the trip to Villarreal, featuring a mix of experienced stars and emerging talents:
Goalkeepers:
- Marc-André ter Stegen (#1)
- Iñaki Peña (#13)
- Astralaga (#26)
Defenders:
- Pau Víctor (#18)
- Cubarsí (#2)
- Alejandro Balde (#3)
- Jules Koundé (#23)
- Íñigo Martínez (#5)
- Eric García (#24)
- Cuenca (#39)
Midfielders:
- Pedri (#8)
- Pablo Torre (#14)
- Marc Casadó (#17)
- Héctor Fort (#32)
- Gerard Martín (#35)
- S. Domínguez (#36)
- Guillermo (#41)
- A. Fernández (#42)
Forwards:
- Robert Lewandowski (#9)
- Ansu Fati (#10)
- Raphinha (#11)
- Lamine Yamal (#19)
Key Talking Points
- Pedri and Casadó's Return: The return of these midfield talents will be vital as Barcelona looks to fill the gap left by injured players.
- Ansu Fati's Comeback: Flick’s confidence in Fati's progression could be a game-changer for Barcelona’s attack.
- Eric García’s Role Change: His potential shift to a defensive midfield position could add tactical flexibility to Barça’s play.
Despite the setbacks, Barça is ready to take on Villarreal with a solid squad and the determination to get back to winning ways. Stay tuned for updates, highlights, and more on Culers Hub Instagram and Facebook!
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