Villarreal vs Barcelona Preview & Tips - Raphinha to net again as Barcelona take on Villarreal in La Liga

By Ben Darvill

17 Dec 2025

Ben Darvill 17 Dec 2025

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Raphinha scored a brace in his last match against Osasuna
Both sides have scored in the last four meetings between the clubs
Preview, stats & head to head

Raphinha of FC Barcelona (Getty Images)

Villarreal vs Barcelona Preview & Tips
Head To Head
Villarreal Form
Barcelona Form

Villarreal vs Barcelona Preview & Tips

Villarreal have been enjoying a stunning season, with their 11 wins in 15 matches seeing the side move up to third in the competition.

Barcelona have taken advantage of Real Madrid's drop in form, with the side moving to the summit of La Liga.

The last four matches involving the sides has seen both fail to keep clean sheets
Raphinha has scored in his last two La Liga outings

Head To Head

Barcelona have won seven of their last 10 against Villarreal, with the latter winning the other three.

Villarreal Form

Villarreal welcome Barcelona for a match that will see third hosting first. The home side boast a brilliant six-game winning run in the league, with this enough to see their hopes of challenging for the title ignited.

With 35 points from 15 matches, Villarreal may trail Barcelona by eight points, but they have two games in hand over their opponents. A win in this match would see them move five points short of the leaders, meaning a brace of wins in their two games in hand would see them move above Barca.

With seven wins in eight home games, Villarreal are in a very strong position to take all three points from this one. However, Barcelona have also been strong on the road, winning five of their eight and only losing twice. With the sides so evenly-matched, it means the game could go either way.

Instead of backing a winner, I am backing the pair to find the back of the net. The last four meetings involving the sides have seen both teams score, with each of these matches seeing over 4.5 goals in entertaining encounters.

Barcelona Form

This is a major chance for Barcelona to seriously stamp their authority on La Liga by ending Villarreal's six-game winning run and potentially moving seven points clear at the summit if results go their way.

Barcelona arrive boasting their own seven-game winning run in La Liga, with this helping them move four points clear of Real Madrid in second. Having lost just two of their opening 17 league games, Barcelona have looked very strong.

Raphinha notched a brace as Barcelona beat Osasuna 2-0 in their last league game, with this making it goals in his last two La Liga matches. I back the forward to get on the scoresheet once again in an entertaining match between two in-form sides.

Verdict

Villarreal v Barcelona

I am backing Raphinha to find the back of the net for the third successive league game as both sides fail to keep a clean sheet.

BTTS Yes

Both Teams To Score

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Raphinha

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