Matchday 11 - Featured Preview: Barcelona vs Villarreal

Saturday night's clash between Barcelona and Villarreal at the Camp Nou could be a landmark game this season. The Yellow Submarine is currently two points behind Barca in the league standings and three behind leaders Real Madrid. With the other big teams alread falling well behind, Juan Carlos Garrido's side hold the last hopes for a three way championship contest but, if they lose against Barca here, La Liga is likely to narrow to a two-horse race with three quarters of the season still ahead of us.

BARCELONA

Player to Watch: Eric Abidal

Barcelona have not been their usual impeccable selves at home this season, but they will need to be on matchday eleven as Villarreal come knocking at the Camp Nou in one of the biggest games of the league calendar. A victory would pile the pressure on Real Madrid ahead of their trip to the Molinon on Sunday. Defeat would deal the blaugrana a bitter blow in their personal struggle for power with Jose Mourinho's current league leaders. Barca warmed up for this match with a 5-1 win over Ceuta in the second leg of the Copa del Rey 4th round, which confirms their place in the last 16. Guardiola's team are WWDWW in their last five and they will be hoping for a similar performance to the one they put in when Sevilla came here two weeks ago, rather than the last time Villarreal visited the Camp Nou and came away with a 1-1 draw.

Pep Guardiola's main concern on Saturday will be replacing suspended defender Gerard Pique at centre back. An injury to Gabriel Milito means that he is not in contention so the manager has two viable options: either to move Eric Abidal over from the left (with Maxwell at left back) or bring in either Marc Barta or Andreu Fontas from Barcelona B. The French veteran is the more likely option as he has already played that role this season and he offers more experience than the talented youngsters. His integration will be crucial, of course, as Villarreal's mobile forwards Nilmar and Giuseppe Rossi will look to exploit any weaknesses. Elsewhere, the "gala" midfield and attack is likely to be reunited after several big names were left out in the cup. Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta and Xavi is the preferred midfield despite the high profile signing of Javier Mascherano this summer, although said Mascherano and Seydou Keita offer more defensive alternatives in case Guardiola errs on the side of caution. Pedro, Lionel Messi and David Villa will start in attack barring any problems; Messi has 17 goals in all competitions so far this season, making him Europe's joint top scorer alongside former Barcelona colleague Samuel Eto'o, now of Inter Milan.

Possible starting XI: (4-3-3) Victor Valdes; Dani Alves, Carles Puyol, Eric Abidal, Maxwell; Xavi, Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta; Pedro Rodriguez, David Villa, Lionel Messi;

VILLARREAL

Player to Watch: Joan Capdevila

Villarreal dispelled any fears of an early cup exit with a 2-0 win over Poli Ejido at the Madrigal on Wednesday. That second leg result gave Juan Carlos Garrido's side a comfortable 3-1 aggregate win, which guarantees their place in the 5th round draw on the 18th of November. That objective achieved, attention now turns to Saturday night's matchday eleven show piece against Barcelona at the Camp Nou. Barca and Villarreal are 2nd and 3rd respectively in the league standings, with only two points between them. If the Yellow Submarine could sink the blaugrana juggernaut here it would deal Pep Guardiola's team a huge blow in the title battle with Real Madrid ahead of the Gran Clasico at the end of the month. Villarreal's form does not look that impressive on paper; they are DDLWW in their last five matches in all competitions but the fact remains they are the only one of the supposed Spanish giants who have kept pace with Barca and Real up until now. There is a lot at stakes in La Liga this weekend and Villarreal have to shoulder a big burden. Defeat in Barcelona could end their own slim title hopes and turn it into another two-horse race with three quarters of the season still to play. The corresponding fixture ended last season in a 1-1 tie and Garrido would probably take a draw if you offered it to him before 10pm on Saturday.

Marcos Senna is back in the squad after a minor injury so Villarreal are back at full strength this weekend. However, given Senna's recent problems and the efficaciousness of the Borja Valero/Bruno Soriano partnership in central midfield on matchday ten, the Brazilian-born former Spain international could possibly start on the bench. If he does come back into the fold immediately to add his weight of experience then Borja will switch back to the wing and Ruben Cani will be the casualty as he drops to the bench. Bruno Soriano and Santi Cazorla would complete the midfield four, with impressive strike duo Nilmar and Giuseppe Rossi looking to feed off them up front. Gonzalo Rodriguez was suspended in the league last weekend and, even though he is available, he will only be on the bench as Mateo Musacchio and Carlos Marchena start at centre back, with Angel Lopez on the right and Joan Capdevila on the left side of defence. Capdevila is a former graduate of the Espanyol academy, a blanquiazul Catalan, who has more reason than most to want Barcelona to fail. He could have a big say in the outcome of the game because he will be marking megastar Lionel Messi and keeping the Argentine quiet will be one of the keys to Villarreal's potential success.

Possible starting XI: (4-4-2) Diego Lopez; Angel Lopez, Carlos Marchena, Mateo Musacchio, Joan Capdevila; Santi Cazorla, Bruno Soriano, Marcos Senna, Borja Valero; Nilmar, Giuseppe Rossi;