Spanish La Liga - Barcelona vs Villarreal

The Champions of Spain, Europe and the World host Villarreal tonight in La Liga hoping to widen the slender lead they have on rivals Real Madrid in the race for the title. The defending Champions are two points clear at the top of the table and look in good form having won four matches in a row, last time out beating Espanyol 1-0. Tonight`s visitors have underperformed this season but will be going into the match on a high after winning four of their past five.

Barcelona go into the match as favourites, priced at 2/5 (bet $50 to win $20 profit), making Villarreal underdogs at 9/1. The draw is at 4/1 and the teams have only drawn six games combined this season in thirty games, with all of Barca`s draws coming away from the Nou Camp.

The bookmakers seem to think a comfortable win for the hosts is on  the cards tonight and they have made a 2-0 win for Barcelona the favourites score at 13/2, slightly ahead of 1-0 at 7/1. 3-0 is at 8/1 and a disappointing 1-1 draw, which could really heat up the title race, is 9/1. A shock 1-0 win for Villarreal is priced at 22/1.

Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, signed in the summer from Inter, is favourite to open the scoring tonight at 7/2. Next most likely is European and World Player of the Year Lionel Messi of Argentina at 4/1, followed by the villainised Frenchman Thierru Henry. Villarreal`s best hope of scoring the first goal of the game is former Manchester United forward Guiseppe Rossi, priced at 10/1.

Barcelona are 11/10 to be winning at both half-time and full-time tonight and 7/2 to win after drawing at half-time. The bookmakers offer 15/2 that both halves are drawn and 18/1 that the visitors stun everyone by leading at both half-time and full-time.

The defending Champions are favourites to retain their La Liga title this season at 8/15.

Barcelona vs Villarreal betting odds

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