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Villarreal (3 wins, 2 draws, 0 losses) welcomes Barcelona (5-0-0) to El Madrigal Sunday for a high-profile La Liga clash. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s soccer odds around the Villarreal vs. Barcelona odds, and make our best soccer bets, picks and predictions.
Villarreal sits 4th in La Liga through 5 matches and is coming off a 2-1 road win over Mallorca Sept. 14. It has scored at least 2 goals in all 5 matches and has allowed a goal in each as well. Villarreal is 1-1-0 at home this season and had fewer expected goals in its lone home draw, a 2-2 result against Atletico Madrid. It is led by F Ayoze Perez, who has netted 3 goals in 5 matches.
Barcelona has been the most dominant team in the league so far this season. It has outscored opponents a combined 17-4, throttling Girona 4-1 on the road Sunday. Barcelona has had at least 1.4 expected goals in each game this season. It has a perfect road record as well and has outscored opponents 8-3 in those 3 matches. It is led by F Robert Lewandowski, who has tallied 4 goals in 5 matches.
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Villarreal vs. Barcelona odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of soccer odds. Lines last updated at 4:23 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Villarreal +290 (bet $100 to win $290) | Barcelona -130 (bet $130 to win $100) | Draw +310
- Over/Under: 3.5 (O: -105 | U: -130)
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Villarreal vs. Barcelona picks and predictions
Prediction
Barcelona 3, Villarreal 1
Moneyline (ML)
BET BARCELONA (-130).
There’s no reason to think Barcelona can’t stay on fire. In its most competitive match against Athletic Club, which sits 6th in the league, Barcelona won 2-1 and still had 0.8 more expected goals. Barcelona has had at least 0.6 more expected goals in each road game this season.
For Villarreal, it had fewer expected goals against Atletico Madrid and allowed 2.7 in a 4-3 home win over Celta Vigo, its lone other home match. It hasn’t performed up to par against its best foes, and it could struggle against a side as technically sound as Barcelona.
BACK BARCELONA (-130).
Over/Under (O/U)
BET OVER 3.5 (-105).
Both teams have scored well this season, so this game should feature ample goals. Villarreal has netted 11 goals in 5 matches and has allowed a goal in every match as well. It has tallied 6 and allowed 5 through its 2 home matches.
Barcelona has scored at least 2 in every match this season and has gone Over this total in all 5 as well, scoring a combined 11 goals in its last 2 league matches. It hasn’t been luck either as it has had at least 1.4 expected goals in all 5 matches.
TAKE OVER 3.5 (-105).
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