Villarreal vs Barcelona LIVE
LaLiga 2018-19
Venue: Estadio de la Ceramica
Date: Tuesday, April 2, 2019
Kick-off: 8:30pm GMT, tonight
Barcelona will look to take another step towards the LaLiga title when they travel to face Villarreal tonight.
Ernesto Valverde's side temporarily increased their lead at the summit to 13 points on Saturday as a late double from Lionel Messi secured victory over local rivals Espanyol in the Derbi Barceloní.
It was later whittled back down to 10 courtesy of closest challengers Atletico Madrid's 4-0 win at Alaves. Looking to slow Barcelona's momentum next is a struggling Villarreal side that currently sit 17th - just one place and point above the dreaded drop zone.
The Yellow Submarine, who slumped to a 2-0 loss at the Camp Nou in December, frittered away a two-goal lead against relegation rivals Celta Vigo at the weekend, eventually losing 3-2.
Follow Villarreal vs Barcelona LIVE with Standard Sport!
Can't see the blog? Click here for the desktop version.
Barcelona team news
Valverde insists there is "no suitable scenario" for resting Messi despite some big matches on the horizon, but the Barca talisman sits out tonight.
Ousmane Dembele, Rafinha and Jasper Cillessen all miss out through injury, while Jeison Murillo and Jean-Clair Todibo have been left out of the travelling party.
Barcelona XI: Ter Stegen, Roberto, Lenglet, Umtiti, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Arthur, Vidal, Coutinho, Malcom, Suarez
Score prediction: Villarreal 0-3 Barcelona
Barcelona have a big game coming up against Atletico at the weekend before a Champions League quarter-final trip to Old Trafford, but you still would not anticipate them taking their eye off the ball here as they go in search of an eighth successive win across all competitions.
Villarreal are fighting to stay in the division, but the manner of that defeat against Celta Vigo will have left them at a low ebb. A comfortable away victory should beckon, with Messi no doubt enjoying another starring role.
TV channel and live stream online coverage
The match will be available on free-to-air television in the UK on ITV4, with pre-match coverage from 8:15pm GMT.
Meanwhile, Eleven Sports will continue their coverage via their app.
You can follow all the action with Standard Sport's LIVE blog.
