Real Madrid and Barcelona are once again neck-and-neck at the top of the La Liga table, with both sides having picked up 24 points from their opening 10 matches. Barça have certainly looked the more potent of the two teams in their games so far, but that is yet to show on the league table: They will doubtless be hoping that this will finally be the weekend they can open up a gap to their biggest rivals.
Barcelona vs. Villarreal 2015 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch La Liga online
Villarreal will look to upset the in-form Barcelona when they travel to Camp Nou on Sunday.
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However, if they’re to stand any chance of doing so, they’re going to have to maintain their recent run of fine form against a talented Villarreal team on Sunday. The Yellow Submarine, as they are quaintly nicknamed, are up in fifth place at the moment, only four points in arrears of their Catalan hosts. They head into this game as underdogs, but Barcelona will underestimate Villarreal at their peril.
Key player: Neymar (Barcelona)
No Messi, no trouble. Or at least that's the case for Barcelona, whose astonishing quality in attack has meant the absence of the legendary Argentine has scarcely been felt. Neymar has been particularly impressive, with the Brazilian winger having netted nine league goals to top both teammate Luis Suárez and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo in La Liga's scoring table. He'll certainly be out to add to his tally on Sunday.
Recent history
Villarreal have regularly been one of the best of Spain’s rest over the past decade, but don’t let that fool you: They hate playing Barcelona as much as anyone. Indeed, the Catalan outfit have won the last six meetings between these sides, with Villarreal last avoiding defeat in a goalless draw in 2012. They haven’t won away at Camp Nou since 2008, when Marcos Senna -- latterly of the New York Cosmos -- and Jon Dahl Tomasson scored either side of a Xavi equaliser to secure a 2-1 win.
Barcelona injuries and suspensions
Out: Rafinha, Lionel Messi (knee); Douglas (foot); Ivan Rakitić (calf); Javier Mascherano (suspended). In doubt: None.
Villarreal injuries and suspensions
Out: Sergio Asenjo (knee); Léo Baptistão, Adrián López (thigh); Mateo Musacchio (leg); Eric Bailly (suspended). In doubt: None.
Barça have suffered a blow in the news that midfielder Rakitić will miss this game through injury, though they otherwise have no new faces on the treatment table. Mascherano is out due to a suspension
Atlético Madrid loanee Baptistão is the latest addition to Villarreal's injury list, and he's joined fellow attacker Adrián on the sidelines. Goalkeeper Asenjo and defender Musacchio continue their comebacks from long-term troubles, while Bailly is suspended.
Match date/time: Sun., Nov. 8, 10 a.m. ET, 4 p.m. local
Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain
TV: beIN Sports (US and Canada - English); beIN Sports en Español (US and Canada - Spanish); Sky Sports 3/HD (UK)
Online: Fubo TV (US); beIN Sports Connect (US and Canada); Sky Go (UK)
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