Barcelona have tough meeting with Villarreal as they try to catch up to Real Madrid: Big Weekend Preview

Barcelona's Lionel Messi controls the ball during a training session at the Miniestadi stadium in Barcelona, Spain, on January 3, 2017. Manu Fernandez / AP

League action returns in Spain and Italy and already there’s a huge clash in Primera Liga, as second-place Barcelona travel to fourth-place Villarreal. Here are some of the key talking points and matches to watch.

Where does Arsenal’s season go from here?

It’s about time for the semi-annual “Wenger out” campaign among a portion of Arsenal’s support.

There was anger at Arsenal’s summer transfer dealings and opening-day defeat at home to Liverpool, but it mostly went away when the London club started playing well and looked like title challengers.

But the anti-Wenger sentiment rarely goes completely away and a couple of bad results has seen some of the optimism disappear at the Emirates.

They have just four points from their last four games and have slipped off the pace in the title race.

Arsenal's 3-3 draw at Bournemouth in the Premier League saw them show tremendous spirit to come back from three goals down with 20 minutes left, but it also showed age-old vulnerabilities in Wenger's side – mainly their propensity to collapse defensively.

But just look at the fixture list – an FA Cup tie at second-tier Preston, an away trip to struggling Swansea City and then home matches against Burnley and Watford.

They could go flying into February and a huge trip to Chelsea on a winning run.

Barcelona’s most important match of the season?

There’s still more than half the season left in Spain, but Real Madrid are in the driving seat to win the Primera Liga title.

They are unbeaten, scoring more than three goals per game and have the joint second-best defence, along with city rivals Atletico Madrid.

In the standings, Madrid are three points ahead of Barcelona with a game in hand, leaving all the pressure on Lionel Messi and company.

It makes Barcelona’s trip to fourth-placed Villarreal massive.

Madrid will likely win their home match against struggling Granada, and a six-point deficit would be a big gap for Barcelona to close, especially considering Madrid, who are unbeaten in 35 Liga games, appear unbeatable.

Villarreal, though, are one of the star performers this season and have Uefa Champions League aspirations.

They have implemented an Atletico-style strategy by basing creating one of the meanest defences in Europe, with just 11 goals conceded.

If Barcelona can go to El Madrigal and come away with three points, it will be a major achievement and keep the reigning champions in the title race.

Five games to watch

• West Ham United v Manchester City, Friday, 11.55pm: This is a tricky one for City. They haven't played particularly well in the league in the last two games and West Ham can be a match for any side at home – if they are on top of their game. Expect powerful Andy Carroll to play up front and give City's suspect defence a tough afternoon.

• Real Madrid v Granada, Saturday, 4pm: Two seasons ago, Madrid won this match 9-1 and Cristiano Ronaldo scored five times. Last season it was a tight 1-0 affair. Which Madrid will we see on Saturday? Granada are second bottom, with one win all season and the second-worst defence in Spain's top flight so it could be another feast of goals at the Bernabeu.

• Preston v Arsenal, Saturday, 9.30pm: When these two met at the same stage 18 years ago it resulted in one the classic FA Cup third-round ties, with Preston going two goals up inside the first 21 minutes before eventually losing 4-2 and having a man sent off. Arsene Wenger often plays a second string in early cup rounds and that will give Preston hope.

• Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa, Sunday, 8pm: Relegated from the Premier League last season, Villa still have a fine squad – on paper – and have the potential to pull off an upset if Spurs are resting their star players such as Dele Alli and Harry Kane. However, the loss of strikers Jordan Ayew and Jonathan Kodija to the African Cup of Nations is a bit of a blow to Villa.

• Villarreal v Barcelona, Sunday, 11.45pm: Last season, Villarreal came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Barca and Luis Enrique's side can ill-afford a similar slip-up. Manager Fran Escriba's side have dropped just five points and conceded five goals in eight home games. This is a major test for Barca though their best form this season has come away from Camp Nou.

Plan your weekend - the pick of the TV games

(All kick-off times UAE, matches on BeIN Sports)

Friday

• English FA Cup: West Ham v Manchester City, 11.55pm

Saturday

• Primera Liga: Real Madrid v Granada, 4pm

• English FA Cup: Manchester United v Reading, 4.30pm

• Primera Liga: Eibar v Atletico Madrid, 7.15pm

• English FA Cup: Preston v Arsenal, 9.30pm

• Serie A: Napoli v Sampdoria, 11.45pm

• Primera Liga: Real Sociedad v Sevilla, 11.45pm

Sunday

• Serie A: Udinese v Inter Milan, 3.30pm

• English FA Cup: Liverpool v Plymouth, 5.30pm

• Serie A: Genoa v Roma, 6pm

• English FA Cup: Chelsea v Peterborough, 7pm

• English FA Cup: Tottenham v Aston Villa, 8pm

• Serie A: AC Milan v Cagliari, 9pm

• Serie A: Juventus v Bologna, 11.45pm

• Primera Liga: Villarreal v Barcelona, 11.45pm

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