Barcelona are set to soak up the spotlight against Villareal this weekend, trophy in hand and smiles all around, after officially wrapping up the La Liga title earlier in the week.
With the Supercopa de España and Copa del Rey already in the bag, the league crown marks their third piece of hardware this season—proof that the Catalan giants are back to doing what they do best: stacking silverware.
They clinched the championship in style, sealing a 2-0 win over crosstown rivals Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium, adding a bit of extra spice to an already sweet victory.
But while the hosts are gearing up for a party, Villarreal are heading to town with no intention of just being background noise. Since Marcelino took the reins, the Yellow Submarine has looked far more buoyant. The former Athletic Club, Valencia, and Marseille boss has steadied the ship, guiding them to a strong position in the race for Champions League football.
Now sitting five points ahead of Real Betis in sixth, Villarreal have hit a purple patch at just the right time. Their latest outing saw them breeze past Leganés with a 3-0 win at El Madrigal, courtesy of a double from Ayoze Pérez and a tidy finish by Nicolas Pépé. With form on their side and a top-four finish within reach, Villarreal will be looking to crash Barcelona’s celebration and keep their own European dream alive.
The Sporting News looks at the key details ahead of this game, including how to watch the match, kickoff times and the latest lineup news.
Barcelona vs. Villarreal live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this La Liga match in the U.S.:
- TV channel: N/A
- Live stream: ESPN+
This game is not available for live TV broadcast in English language in the United States. Streaming options are available on ESPN+.
You can get an ESPN+ subscription for $11.99 per month or purchase an annual plan for $119.99 per year, a $24 savings. Stream your favorite teams live and enjoy more sports anywhere with an ESPN+ subscription.
What time does Barcelona vs. Villarreal kick off?
This La Liga clash takes place at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in Barcelona, Spain and kicks off on Sunday, May 18 at 7:00 p.m. local time.
Here’s how that time translates across the U.S.:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| Eastern Time | Sun, May 18 | 1:00 p.m. |
| Central Time | Sun, May 18 | 12:00 p.m. |
| Mountain Time | Sun, May 18 | 11:00 a.m. |
| Pacific Time | Sun, May 18 | 10:00 a.m. |
Barcelona vs. Villarreal predicted lineups, team news
Barcelona will have a familiar face back in the mix this weekend, with Iñigo Martínez returning from suspension just in time for the club’s homecoming celebration. However, there’s a cloud hanging over Ronald Araújo’s status after a muscle issue forced him off the pitch during the title-clinching win midweek.
Jules Koundé, Ferran Torres, and rising youngster Marc Bernal remain sidelined, but head coach Hansi Flick is expected to shuffle the deck. Alejandro Balde, Pau Cubarsí, and Fermín López are all tipped to get the nod as the champions look to share the spotlight and spread the minutes.
Up front, the usual suspects are primed to keep the fireworks going. Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Robert Lewandowski have been tearing it up all season long and are likely to lead the charge once more as Barcelona sets its sights on hitting the century mark in league goals—a milestone that would put a cherry on top of an already glittering campaign.
Barcelona predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Szczesny (GK) — E Garcia, Cubarsi, I Martinez, Balde — De Jong, Pedri — Yamal, Fermin, Raphinha — Lewandowski.
Injured: Ronald Araújo, Jules Koundé, Ferran Torres, Marc Bernal.
Suspended: None
Villarreal are dealing with a few bumps and bruises ahead of their showdown at the Camp Nou, with Kiko Femenía, Raúl Albiol, Thierno Barry, and Ilias Akhomach all set to watch from the sidelines. Still, the visitors make the trip in solid shape, with most of their key players fit and firing.
Ayoze Pérez continues to be the man of the moment, bagging a brace in the win over Leganés to take his tally to 18 league goals. He’s expected to lead the line again, aiming to keep his hot streak rolling under the Catalan spotlight.
Barring any surprises, only one tweak is on the cards from the last starting eleven. Willy Kambwala could slot into the back line, a move that would likely shift Juan Foyth over to right-back as the Yellow Submarine looks to stay watertight at the back while keeping their European dream afloat.
Villarreal predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Luiz Junior (GK) — Foyth, Kambwala, Costa, Pedraza — Gueye, Parejo — Pepe, Baena, Pino — Perez.
Injured: Kiko Femenía, Raúl Albiol, Thierno Barry, Ilias Akhomach
Suspended: None.
La Liga fixture schedule this week
All times ET
Sunday, May 18
- Atletico Madrid vs. Real Betis (1:00 p.m.)
- Barcelona vs. Villareal (1:00 p.m.)
- Celta Vigo vs. Rayo Vallecano (1:00 p.m.)
- Las Palmas vs. Leganes (1:00 p.m.)
- Osasuna vs. Espanyol (1:00 p.m.)
- Real Mallorca vs. Getafe (1:00 p.m.)
- Real Sociedad vs. Girona (1:00 p.m.)
- Real Valladolid vs. Alaves (1:00 p.m.)
- Sevilla vs. Real Madrid (1:00 p.m.)
- Valencia vs. Athletic Bilbao (1:00 p.m.)
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