Barcelona have been crowned champions of Spain and they will lift the trophy this weekend

18 May 2025 - 9:15 am
Barcelona have been crowned champions of Spain and they will lift the trophy this weekend

Barcelona have been crowned champions of Spain and they will lift the trophy this weekend as they welcome a Villarreal side still competing for UEFA Champions League qualification.

Barcelona were crowned champions of Spain in midweek and earned their third trophy of the campaign after the Supercopa de Espana as well as the Copa del Rey. They won the title at city rivals Espanyol with a 2-0 victory at the RCDE Stadium the other day.

The brilliant, and still 17-year-old, Lamine Yamal scored another brilliant goal in the 53rd minute before Leandro Cabrera was sent off for Espanyol in the 80th minute. Another La Masia graduate, Fermin Lopez, sealed the victory for the Blaugrana in second-half stoppage-time.

Ever since the appointment of former Athletic Club, Olympique de Marseille and Valencia boss Marcelino; Villarreal have been much-improved and they now begin the penultimate week of the campaign sitting five points clear of sixth place Real Betis.

They have timed an excellent run of form extremely well as they come into this one on the back of a comfortable 3-0 defeat of Leganes at El Madrigal in midweek thanks to a brace of goals from Ayoze Perez as well as a strike from former Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe.

Ferran Torres missed the game against Espanyol in midweek so the still not yet fully fit Robert Lewandowski is expected to start. They remain without defender Inigo Martinez, as he is missing through suspension.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Szczesny; Eric Garcia, Ronald Araujo, Pau Cubarsi, Alex Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Raphinha; Lewandowski.

As they make the trip to Catalonia this weekend, the Yellow Submarine have a few key doubts such as Kiko Femenia, Ilias Akhomach and Thierno Barry. Experienced centre-back Raul Albiol, formerly of Real Madrid, is also unavailable for the visitors.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Junior; Pau Navarro, Foyth, Costa, Alfonso; Gueye, Dani Parejo; Pepe, Alex Baena, Yeremy Pino; Ayoze.