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The preseason is over and now is the time for the real thing! After defeating each of Gymnastic Tarragona, Girona Y Elche, things get really competitive for Barça in their first league game. And it’s a rough start for the new manager Ronald Koeman. Villarreal They have been one of the strongest teams in La Liga for several years and are also playing under a new manager: Unai emery.
Like towards the end of last season and across the planet, COVID-19 is going to have a huge influence on La Liga, at least for the foreseeable future. Games continue to be played behind closed doors and the strictest health and safety protocols are applied.
In fact, although the League started two weeks ago, Barça are among the teams that start their calendar later because the previous season was extended until August.
New faces
The party supposes a possible debut of the Barça for Pedri, just arrived from Las Palmas, Miralem Pjanić, the experienced Bosnian signed from Juventus and Francisco Trincão, the arrival of the Portuguese from Braga who looked so impressive in the Gamper.
The club has also welcomed several players who were on loan: Jean-Clair Todibo (Schalke 04), Carles alena (Betis), Rafinha (Celtic) and Philippe Coutinhowhile the teenage feeling Ansu fati now he is also an official member of the first team.
Players who have left include Arthur (Juventus), Ivan Rakitic (Seville), Arturo vidal (Bury), Nelson Semedo (Wolves) and Luis Suarez (Atletico Madrid).
With Ter Stegen injured for at least another two weeks, is grandchild which will be starting in goal.
The opposition
Villarreal, playing in the European League This season, it was one of the teams that started playing a fortnight ago, and that advantage could give them some kind of advantage. They started with a 1-1 draw against the newly promoted Huesca and followed that with a 2-1 loss of Eibar.
Last five games (all in La Liga)
5/7/20 Villarreal 1 (Brown) Barça 4 (OG, Suárez, Griezmann, Ansu Fati)
9/24/19 Barça 2 (Griezmann, Arthur) Villarreal 1 (Cazorla)
2/4/19 Villarreal 4 (Chukweze, Toko-Camp, Iborra, Bacca) Barça 4 (Coutinho, Malcom, Messi, Suárez)
02/12/18 Barça 2 (Piqué, Aleñá) Villarreal 0
7/9/18 Barça 5 (Coutinho, Paulinho, Messi, Dembélé 2) Villarreal 1 (Sansone)
Did you know
Barça have won nine of their last ten league season openers. The only defeat was in Bilbao at the start of last season.
Barça have only lost a home game in the opening once before, back in 1939, when they lost to Spanish at Las Cortes.
Barça are undefeated in 22 league games against Villarreal and have won the last nine played in Camp Nou.
Leo Messi he has scored an average of one goal per game in Villarreal’s last eight league visits to the Camp Nou.
Unai emery He has managed teams at the Camp Nou 12 times in the past and has always lost. That includes being the coach of the PSG who unforgettably lost 6-1 in the 2017 Champions League.
Carles alena scored his first goal for Barça against Villarreal in 2018, and Ousmane Dembélé scored his first double for the club in the same year.
Ronald Koeman says
“We have to improve things in defense because the system is different from other years. It is a radical change and it takes time. Villarreal have strong players up front and we have to get the ball out of them quickly.”
“We have two weeks to boost the squad, but for now I can only work with the players we have … Villarreal has been playing for two weeks now, but we have been working hard and we look strong for tomorrow.”
“Luis Suarez and I respect myself. Now that he has gone to Atlético de Madrid I wish him all the luck in the world ”.
“Young players need to play, whether it’s team B or other teams. But it was Riqui PuigIt is a decision to stay and tomorrow he will be in the squad ”.
