Barcelona vs Villarreal Prediction 28.02.2026 | La Liga

The Catalan giants approach Matchday 26 firmly in the driver’s seat of a fiercely contested La Liga title race, holding a slender one-point advantage over arch-rivals Real Madrid following their clinical 3-0 dismantling of Levante last weekend.

That victory represented a strong response from Hansi Flick’s side after a turbulent spell, which included a heavy 4-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final and a painful 2-1 loss in the Catalan derby against Girona. With the second leg of the cup tie looming, Barcelona will be eager to build momentum and deliver a commanding performance to set the tone for the decisive clash ahead.

A key pillar of Barcelona’s domestic dominance this season has been their formidable record at Spotify Camp Nou. They remain the only side in the league with a 100% home record, boasting 12 wins from 12 matches, while averaging an impressive 3.08 goals per game in front of their supporters.

In terms of team news, Andreas Christensen remains sidelined with a ligament injury, and Gavi continues his recovery following arthroscopic surgery. However, there is a major boost in midfield as the team’s driving force, Pedri, has returned to fitness and is expected to feature in this weekend’s encounter.

From the visitors’ perspective, Villarreal arrive in Catalonia firmly established as “best of the rest” in La Liga. Sitting third with an impressive tally of 51 points, they hold a three-point cushion over Atletico Madrid in the race for Champions League qualification.

The Yellow Submarine travel to Barcelona in high spirits after grinding out back-to-back victories over fellow Valencian sides Levante and Los Ches — results that have significantly boosted morale in the dressing room and strengthened their grip on a top-four spot.

Encouragement can also be drawn from their recent record at this venue. Villarreal have claimed maximum points in three of their last four visits to Catalonia, including thrilling 5-3 and 3-2 victories over Barcelona in the past two seasons, proving they are more than capable of troubling the Blaugrana on their own turf.

However, despite being regarded as one of the division’s strongest travelling sides this campaign, Marcelino must contend with a serious injury crisis that could leave him without as many as seven players, including key defensive figures Juan Foyth and Sergi Cardona — absences that may significantly test Villarreal’s depth in what promises to be a demanding encounter.