Fati's 391-day break and Villarreal as his destiny
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Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 22.09.24. | 14:19
The youngster is set to return to La Liga facing the same rival he played his last game against on August 27, 2023
We've already mentioned Ansu Fati's grand return to Barcelona's squad and his potential resurrection under Hansi Flick, who is willing to put his faith into the 21-year-old, unlike several of his predecessors on Barca's bench. Now, he's ready to return to La Liga after 391 days since his last match. It was August 27, 2023, and the rival was the same as today - Villarreal. Barca beat the Yellow Submarine in a "blockbuster" 4-3 after a second-half comeback, and Fati noted his last 14 minutes in the red and blue jersey. Until today.
🔙 Ansu Fati’s last match in LaLiga was 13 months ago, at Estadio de la Ceramica in Barça’s 4-3 win last season. Today he returns to the same stadium. 🟡
— Blaugranagram (@Blaugranagram) September 22, 2024
Villareal is also Ansu’s favorite opponent, he scored 4 goals against them. pic.twitter.com/ubpI5J9mXl
A complicated foot injury kept him out of the pitch from July to a week ago, but now he's ready. Flick gave him a couple of minutes last Thursday against Monaco in the Champions League, and now he's up for more. It is unlikely that Fati will start, although the German tactician has problems with the squad decimated by injuries.
Gavi and Frenkie de Jong are back in training but not ready to play. Dani Olmo, Marc Bernal, and Fermin Lopez won't be at Flick's disposal either, nor will the defensive duo of Andreas Christensen and Ronald Araujo. At the same time, Ferran Torres is suspended after being sent off against Girona last week.
All this opens the space for Fati, though Barca will again heavily rely on the "goal-scoring machinery" - Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, and Robert Lewandowski. Still, Villarreal are anything but an easy opponent. Jagoba Arrasate's team sits in fourth spot - four points behind the Catalans - and are undefeated this season. Moreover, they beat Sevilla and drew with Atletico Madrid, showing they would be a tough nut to crack.
LA LIGA - MATCHDAY 7
Friday
Alaves - Sevilla 2-0 (1-0)
/Vicente 17, Martin 60/
Saturday
Valladolid - Sociedad 0-0
Osasuna - Las Palmas 2-1 (1-1)
/Budimir 39 pen, Oroz 60 - Moleiro 41/
Valencia - Girona 2-0 (2-0)
/Rioja 56, Gomez 58/
Real Madrid - Espanyol 4-1 (0-0)
/Carvajal 58, Rodrygo 75, Vinicius Jr 78, Mbappe 90 pen - Courtois 54 og/
Sunday
15:00: (2.10) Getafe (2.85) Leganes (4.80)
17:15: (1.70) Ath.Bilbao (3.60) Celta (5.30)
19:30: (4.40) Villareal (3.70) Barcelona (1.80)
22:00: (4.90) Rayo Vallecano (3.60) Atl.Madrid (1.85)
Monday
22:00 (1.90) Betis (3.50) Mallorca (4.70)
***odds are subject to change***
