\n
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) \u2014 Villarreal quietly began a potential dark-horse title-winning campaign through most of the first half of La Liga.<\/p>\n
There is now a chance to make it official when the ‘Yellow Submarine’ host Barcelona on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Coach Marcelino Garc\u00eda Toral’s team are in third place, eight points behind leaders Barcelona and four points behind second-place Real Madrid. However, since they have played two fewer games than the strong countries, there is a good chance that they will be in an even better position.<\/p>\n
Villarreal disappointed in the Champions League and were also eliminated in this week’s Copa del Rey by a team from the lower leagues. But La Liga is a different story. Villarreal are on a six-game winning streak, but have only lost two games, against Madrid and Atl\u00e9tico Madrid.<\/p>\n
This game pits Villarreal’s league-leading defense, which conceded 13 goals, against its league-leading offense. Barcelona scored 49 goals and more than made up for their sometimes shaky defense by outscoring their opponents.<\/p>\n
key match<\/h2>\n
Barcelona will aim to end 2025 on a high this weekend by eliminating any thoughts of Villarreal’s challenge.<\/p>\n
Lamine Yamal and his team’s eight consecutive league wins will continue to put pressure on Madrid’s struggling side.<\/p>\n
Madrid host Sevilla on Saturday and manager Xabi Alonso needs a convincing win before a two-week winter break to ponder the team’s future.<\/p>\n
Madrid needed a last-minute save from goalkeeper Andriy Lunin to avoid possible embarrassment against the third-tier club in Wednesday’s Copa del Rey. It came after a lackluster win against Alaves in the Spanish league and back-to-back home defeats against Manchester City in the Champions League and Celta Vigo in La Liga.<\/p>\n
Fourth-placed Atl\u00e9tico Madrid visit Girona on Sunday, while fifth-placed Espanyol face Athletic Bilbao on Monday with an astonishing fourth straight win.<\/p>\n
Featured players<\/h2>\n
Villarreal’s success is based on a team effort from several goal scorers and playmakers. However, left winger Alberto Moreiro stands out. He has made a breakthrough in his first season with the team, leading Villarreal with six league goals. Tahon Buchanan added five goals, with midfielder Santi Comesa\u00f1a helping out a solid midfield.<\/p>\n
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has so far been successful in reinforcing the left-sided centre-back position in Gerard Martin, who struggled to fill the left-back void when Alejandro Balde was injured late last season.<\/p>\n
Mart\u00edn started his fifth consecutive game in the middle of the defensive line as manager Flick tries to find a replacement for I\u00f1igo Mart\u00ednez, who left for Saudi Arabia last summer. Martin may be tested in Villarreal’s attack.<\/p>\n
Activity suspended<\/h2>\n
Villarreal will be without injured veteran striker Gerard Moreno and defensive midfielder Pape Gueye, who will represent Senegal at the African Cup of Nations.<\/p>\n
Even after Antonio Rudiger and Dean Huyssen return to health, Madrid’s backline remains in decline. Eder Militao, David Alaba, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal and Ferland Mendy are injured. Alvaro Carreras has been suspended.<\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
AP Soccer: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/soccer<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n
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