Barca started this game five points behind leaders Atletico Madrid who visit the Nou Camp on 8 May. That game isn't going to need any hyping.

We've not seen an awful lot of Lionel Messi so far. How many times have we said that and then he ultimately delivers?

Villarreal are sharp on the counter. There's a lot of pace in this team and they're breaking at speed but Marc-Andre ter Stegen is yet to be tested.

Barcelona should be leading. Frenkie de Jong will not want to see that again. Great save by the Villarreal keeper but that was a huge opportunity for De Jong.

How did that stay out?

Frenkie de Jong is unmarked a couple of yards out when he connects with a low cross but his attempt is kept out by Sergio Asenjo.

That was an incredible save. De Jong should have buried it.

Gerard Pique has been in deep conversation with Ronald Koeman. Barca are enjoying pockets of possession but are yet to properly settle against a well-organised Villarreal side.

Lionel Messi is enjoying another wonderful season full of goals and he's eyeing up another one after Barca win a free-kick just outside the box. Up he steps but the yellow wall in front of him does its job.

Barcelona respond immediately through Antoine Griezmann after a clever flick by Frenkie de Jong but the France forward's attempt - which is heading for the net - is blocked by a yellow shirt with keeper Sergio Asenjo on the ground.

Early corner for the Yellow Submarine won by Alberto Moreno. It's whipped in and danger man Gerard Moreno gets on the end of it but it lands on the roof of the net. Confident start by the hosts.

Villarreal get the game under way - and immediately give the ball away. Unai Emery has named his strongest XI for this one but surely he will have one eye on Thursday's Europa League semi-final against Arsenal.

If this is half as good as the meeting between these two in April 2019 then we're in for an absolute cracker. It ended 4-4 two years ago. Here we go then. We're under way at the Estadio de la Ceramica.

Here come the teams. It's a gorgeous sunny day with blue skies in the east of Spain - just as it is in Manchester. It looks like Barca are going to be playing this one in their black kit.

Image source, Getty Images

Two of La Liga's top three scorers are on show in this game.

Lionel Messi and Gerard Moreno have 45 goals between them in Spain's top-flight this season.

Moreno has 10 goals in his past nine appearances and scored a hat-trick away to Granada earlier this month.

The 29-year-old has 20 La Liga goals in 2020-21. Only Messi (25) and Karim Benzema (21) have more.

In total, Moreno has 53 goals in 123 league games for Villarreal and is one goal away from equalling Giuseppe Rossi (54 in 136 games) and Diego Forlan (54 in 106) as Villarreal’s all-time top scorer in the top-flight.

Barcelona

Barcelona have won 43 out of 48 points in La Liga in 2021 - more than any other team in this period.

Image source, Getty Images

This is the start of a big few days for Villarreal and their boss Unai Emery. After Barca, the Yellow Submarine host Emery's former club Arsenal in the Europa League semis on Thursday.

They start this game seventh in the table and are challenging to finish in a European place.

Image source, Getty Images

It's not that long ago that Barca were being written off in terms of winning this season's La Liga. They were 12 points off the top after Cadiz secured a famous win over Ronald Koeman's team on 5 December.

Today, they can go level on points with second-placed Real Madrid with a game in hand.

Leaders Atletico Madrid, chasing a first league title in seven years, are also in action later at mid-table Athletic Bilbao (20:00 BST) while fourth-placed Sevilla entertain Granada at 17:30.

Image source, .

Former Barcelona title winner Paco Alcacer starts against his former club. Ex-Liverpool full-back Alberto Moreno also lines up for Villarreal along with former Tottenham and Watford midfielder Etienne Capoue.

On-loan Argentina defender Juan Foyth starts as his parent club Tottenham prepare to face Manchester City at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final.

Former Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin is among the subs.

Image source, .

Just the one change for Barcelona from the side that started the 5-2 win over Getafe on Thursday. Sergino Dest returns with Sergi Roberto dropping to the bench.

Image source, .

It's one of the most exciting title races in Europe.

With just four weeks of the La Liga season left, the top four in Spain are separated by six points.

Defending champions Real Madrid dropped crucial points on Saturday.

Will chasing Barcelona take advantage?