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By Zach Lowy
After losing 3-0 to Monaco in the 59th edition of the preseason Joan Gamper Trophy, Barcelona began the Hansi Flick era with three consecutive 2-1 victories before obliterating Real Valladolid 7-0 and demolishing Girona 4-1.
With 17 goals, Barcelona boast the best attack in LaLiga (four above second-placed Celta de Vigo) and sit four points clear of Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid and Villarreal. They have done so amid a mounting injury crisis that has seen key players like Ronald Araújo, Andreas Christensen, Frenkie de Jong, and Gavi suffer long-term absences, with Dani Olmo becoming the latest victim. Olmo was Barcelona’s sole summer arrival (€55m) apart from the €2.7m capture of Pau Víctor from Girona, and after scoring in each of his first three matches for Barça, he looks set to miss the next month with a hamstring problem.
Like Girona, Barcelona also lost to a French side in the UEFA Champions League, falling to 10 men early on and succumbing to a 2-1 defeat at Monaco, and they will be looking to bounce back on Sunday as they travel to a Villarreal side that is the sole unbeaten team outside of LaLiga’s Big Three. Villarreal held Atleti to a 2-2 draw on the opening day before beating Sevilla 2-1 thanks to a 95th-minute winner from Ayoze Pérez and escaping with a 4-3 victory against Celta via Dani Parejo’s 100th-minute goal from the penalty spot.
Despite losing key players like goalkeeper Filip Jørgensen and top scorer Alexander Sørloth, the Yellow Submarine are going full steam ahead under Marcelino, and one of the biggest reasons has been the clutch form of Ayoze Pérez. After making his first appearance for Spain and winning the Euros, Pérez left Real Betis for Villarreal for €4 million, and it hasn’t taken long for him to make an impact at El Madrigal. Having relinquished an early lead at Mallorca, Villarreal were struggling to make the most of their man advantage and looked headed for a draw until the 94th minute, when Yeremy Pino rewarded Pérez’s near post run with a teasing cross. Pérez made no mistake from close range, finding the back of the net for the third time in four matches. If Villarreal are to put an end to Barcelona’s perfect domestic form, expect Pérez to have a big role to play.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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