Hello and welcome to our live text coverage of the La Liga meeting between Barcelona and Villarreal at the Camp Nou. The hosts may have wrapped up the league title and the visitors are already in Europe, but to say there's nothing at stake tonight doesn't quite cut it.

Barcelona are just three games away from a historic unbeaten campaign, while Villarreal can move above Real Betis into fifth place by denying them that record tonight. Kickoff is just under an hour away, but there's plenty to get through between now and then, beginning with the two starting XIs...

BARCELONA XI: Cillessen, Vermaelen, Pique, Digne, Semedo, Busquets, Iniesta, Paulinho, Messi, Coutinho, Dembele

BARCA SUBS: Rakitic, Alba, Suarez, Ter Stegen, Alcácer, Gomes, Mina

VILLARREAL XI: Asenjo, Ruiz, Alvaro, Costa, Mario, Fornals, Trigueros, Rodri, Bacca, Cheryshev, Castillejo

VILLARREAL SUBS: Bonera, Fuego, Fernandez, Sansone, Marin, Unal, Raba

So, what can we make of those two starting XIs? Starting with Barcelona, they have made a number of changes from last weekend's 2-2 draw with bitter rivals Real Madrid, including a start for Ousmane Dembele and Luis Suarez dropping to the bench.

With Sergi Roberto suspended, Nelson Semedo starts in the right-back position while Ivan Rakitic makes way for Paulinho in midfield.

Andres Iniesta, who was substituted in El Clasico, starts at the Camp Nou as he winds down what has been an illustrious career at Barcelona. Reports suggest that he will be heading to a club in the Far East this summer.

© SilverHub

Barca have also made a change in goal, giving Jasper Cillessen a run-out while first-choice Marc-Andre ter Stegen is benched.

Over to Villarreal, and Carlos Bacca will provide their goal threat while Denis Cheryshev retains his place in an advanced midfield role. Pablo Fornals takes on a deeper midfield position, replacing Dani Raba who drops to the bench. The visitors were without the services of Antonio Rukavina but otherwise at full strength.

Just a reminder that Barcelona start the match top of the pile with the La Liga title already in the bag, while their opponents are sixth and have already qualified for the Europa League. A win for the visitors, however, would fire them up to fifth.

In a classy move, the visitors will give Barca a guard of honour tonight (since Real did not ahead of El Clasico) and will also present Iniesta with a special award for his contributions to Spanish football.

#BarçaVillarreal | Today at the Camp Nou 🏟, #Villarreal will stand aside to applaud @FCBarcelona for their @LaLigaEN title when they walk out and will also present @andresiniesta8 with a ceramic Yellow Submarine to pay tribute to his career and his values as an athlete. pic.twitter.com/2wKedDxWpF — Villarreal CF English (@Eng_Villarreal) May 9, 2018

Let's take a look over some of the stats that matter ahead of this clash. Just to give you an idea of what Villarreal are up against tonight, Barca are unbeaten in a whopping 42 La Liga matches!

Goals by the lorryload are they secret to their success. The Catalan giants have scored at least two of them in 27 of their last 29 league games, which is generally what happens when your attack is spearheaded by Messi and Suarez most weeks.

Their games are generally high-scoring affairs and it isn't always one-way traffic. Barcelona matches have produced more than 2.5 goals on average for last six times on the spin, and there are signs that they're starting to ship them. The Catalans have conceded at least two in their last three league games.

As for Villarreal, they're on winning run of three matches on the spin and have earned plaudits for their aerial dominance and counter-attacking play.

Rodri has been a key man for them this season, with a passing accuracy of 89%. Man-marking him throughout the match will be important for the hosts tonight, but they will need to keep an eye on Carlos Bacca, too.

The Colombian has been known to find the Bacca the net if given space in the final third. In fact, he has scored 49 goals in his 104 appearances in La Liga and could become only the second Colombian to hit the 50 milestone tonight, after Radamel Falcao.

Villarreal are often their own worst enemy and have a horrible record at giving away free kicks in critical areas. They have conceded 12 goals from set pieces this season, which is something Barca could exploit through Messi, as well as good headers of the ball like Paulinho.

Let's take a look at the head-to-head record between the two teams, and Villarreal fans should probably look away now.

The visitors have lost at this stadium on the last seven occasions, and Barca have hit three goals in six of those meetings!

Looking at the bigger picture, Barcelona are undefeated in their last 17 La Liga games against tonight's opposition, but their last defeat to them was at the Camp Nou in 2008, a game the visitors won 2-1.

To be more specific about the Yellow Submarine's fortunes at this ground, it's won three, drawn four, lost 10, and they last kept a clean sheet here way back in April 2004, a goalless draw.

Lionel Messi is always up for this fixture, having scored 12 goals in his last 12 La Liga games against Villarreal. He's also found the net on the last four occasions the two teams have met at the Camp Nou, with a haul of seven goals.

© Offside

Here's a quick reminder of what is at stake for Barca in their remaining three league games...

1 - Barcelona are looking to become the first La Liga champions to go unbeaten for a whole 20-team season (W26 D9). Desire. pic.twitter.com/Sk06mlENpF — OptaJose (@OptaJose) May 9, 2018

PREDICTION: As we've already touched on, there's still plenty for both of these teams to play for, even though Barca are confirmed champions and their opponents have already sealed Champions League football. The two managers have named strong starting XIs, so Villarreal are sure to pose a tough test for a near-full strength Barca. That said, there's so much quality among the Catalans' ranks that they will most likely edge this one 2-1.

Pre-match quotes from the two managers coming up...

ERNESTO VALVERDE: "We carry on with the intention of winning the games we have left and staying competitive," he told a press conference ahead of Wednesday's visit of Villarreal. We are facing a team who are having a great season and they will be looking to book a place in Europe. We want our level of competitiveness to be a habit, it's good to arrive at the end with everything solved but I want it to be an acquired habit."

© Offside

JAVI CALLEJA: "The challenge is huge, but the motivation is too. It's a historic year for Barca. It is practically unrepeatable not to have lost in the league.I expect a very motivated Barca. Surely they want to finish the league without defeat and they play at home and want to give their fans a treat. Despite the difficulty, we are confident of winning and playing a great game at the Camp Nou. We must keep the concentration for 90 minutes and not make mistakes."

With just over five minutes to go until kickoff, here's a reminder of both starting lineups...

The starting XIs at Camp Nou!#BarçaVillarreal pic.twitter.com/kd4nifOKnn

— LaLiga (@LaLigaEN) May 9, 2018

For Barca, it's a 4-3-3 formation while the visitors line up with a 4-5-1, having packed their midfield and placed their faith in Bacca to provide the goal threat.

Barcelona are heading out onto the pitch now to rapturous applause from a packed-out Camp Nou. The Villarreal players are giving the league champions a guard of honour.

Just two minutes until kickoff now. Stand by for minute-by-minute updates from the match itself...

KICKOFF! The match is now underway with Barcelona kicking from right to left in the first period.

Barca start proceedings off at a leisurely pace. They've held the ball up well in the opening minutes, with Semedo and Pique passing it across the backline calmly.

The hosts attempt to channel something along the right flank as Semedo releases Paulinho. The Brazilian switches play to the left channel and Iniesta arrives in support, but the veteran midfielder is unable to pick out either of the three Barca forwards with his searching pass.

SHOT! We have our first shot of the match and it misses the target by some distance. Messi gains possession on the edge of the box, does well to weave his way between two defenders and unleashes a curler which bends wide of the left upright.

The visitors have set out a tight stall and their five-man midfield is certainly standing its ground. Just the one chance in this one so far, that Messi effort which dipped wide of the post.

Messi draws a foul from Ruiz and Barca win a free kick in their opponents' half, but the hosts do nothing with it as Gonzalez meets it with a headed clearance.

Barca break the deadlock just after the 10-minute mark. Dembele gains possession in the box and gets a shot away which Sergio Asenjo can only parry straight into the path of the onrushing Coutinho, who smashes home from close range.

CHANCE! Villarreal create their first chance and it isn't far away! Pablo Fornals goes on a mazy run and lets fly. His strike was bending from the moment it left his boot, forcing Jasper Cillessen into an acrobatic save at full stretch to keep it out at the top corner.

The visitors can't do anything with the resulting corner from Cillessen save moments earlier, and they find themselves on the back foot once again, defending a pacey Barcelona break.

Bara double their advantage and their second comes off the back of a blistering counter. Paulinho caps the break off by tapping Lucas Digne's ball across the face of goal into the back of the net from close range.

The hosts go in search of a third as Semedo's through-ball releases Messi. The Argentine attempts to play a one-two with his teammate but the right-back drifts offside.

Dembele wins a free kick in the danger zone which Messi steps up to take. It isn't vintage Messi by any means as the striker's shot cannons into the wall.

Barca are putting their opponents under intense pressure now. First, Iniesta flashes a shot across the face of goal, and moments later Dembele goes on a blistering run and lets fly with a low drive, forcing Asenjo to get down quickly to turn it away.

Villarreal are being completely dominated here. The Barca counter has been relentless and it's kept them on the back foot. They have no answer to the pace of Dembele, the skill of Messi and the pressure Coutinho is applying at every opportunity.

The visitors have attempted to play a containment game, but they have failed to get any service up to Bacca up front and they defence looks like it will come undone every time Barca pile bodies forward.

A Messi shot deflects behind off Gonzalez and Barca win a corner. The cross comes in but the move breaks down as an offside flag goes up against Vermaelen.

Gonzalez puts the ball behind for another corner, and once again, Barca full their lines from a set piece. This time Pique is the guilty party as he commits a foul as the cross is played into the danger zone.

Here's the scene moments after Countinho rifled in Barca's first. That's four goals and as many assists for the former Liverpool man in La Liga.

.@Phil_Coutinho in #LaLigaSantander! 👆

4 - GOALS ⚽⚽⚽⚽
5 - Assists 🅰🅰🅰🅰🅰#BarçaVillarreal pic.twitter.com/EGeT3wSPbz

— LaLiga (@LaLigaEN) May 9, 2018

Villarreal are given a rare opportunity to apply pressure as Bacca gets half a yard on his marker and attempts to play a cross into the area. The Colombian, however, loses his footing and the ball bounces off his shin and behind for a goalkick.

Villarreal win a corner as Digne attempts to shepherd the ball out of play, only to touch it along the way. The cross comes in but Coutinho is on hand to sweep it clear convincingly.

Messi and Castillejo tangle with one another and the Argentine striker looks like he is in he clear. However, the move grinds to a halt as the referee blows for a foul on the Villarreal man.

CHANCE! Villarreal's best chance of the game goes begging. Bacca cuts inside the penalty area and lays the ball on for Jaume Costa to strike, but Cillessen reacts quickly, makes himself big and produces a vital block. Good goalkeeping.

Barca attempt to hit Villarrel with a swift break in response. Dembele dances his way into the penalty area and attempts to pick out Busquets, but the Spaniard slips as he attempts to let fly and the move breaks down.

BOOKING! Ruiz Torre gets the game's first yellow card for a cynical tackle.

Barca are almost out of sight now! Messi gets his name on the scoresheet after timing his run into the box to absolute perfection. He latches onto a cutting pass from Iniesta and guides the ball beyond Asenjo with the slighest of touches to make it 3-0.

Barcelona head into the interval with a 3-0 lead over Villarreal, and it's been too easy for them so far. The Spanish champions have made it look effortless.

The likes of Dembele and Messi have run riot against the yellows, who really have no answer to that blistering Barca counter-attack.

As things stand, Barcelona will be two games away from a historic unbeaten league campaign. After tonight, they face Levante away and Real Sociedad at home - it's difficult to see either of those teams pulling off a shock win against them.

Everything is going to plan for the hosts, but expected them to give some of their subs a run-out in the second period. It would be a surprise if big guns such as Luis Suarez and Ivan Rakitic don't feature at some point.

As for Villarreal, they could make a change in midfield as they're losing the battle in the centre of the park despite packing out the engine room. Dani Raba could help firm things up if he was to enter the fray.

There was a nice moment ahead of this match as Iniesta was presented with a ceramic Yellow Submarine by the visitors for his services to Spanish football.

.@Eng_Villarreal presented @andresiniesta8 with a ceramic Yellow Submarine in recognition of his career and his values as a sportsman! 👏🚢👏#BarçaVillarreal pic.twitter.com/y4aYLQ2KBr

— LaLiga (@LaLigaEN) May 9, 2018

The veteran midfielder has had an excellent game tonight, proving just how much he will be missed when he moves on at the end of the season. Coutinho has been touted as his replacement, although the Brazilian has been playing on the left tonight.

KICKOFF: We are back underway at the Camp Nou. Just how many can Barca score tonight? Stay tuned to find out.

Barcelona are unchanged for the second period while Villarreal have made one change in midfield, swapping Denis Cheryshev for Nicola Sansone.

There's an early half-chance for the visitors as they play a throw-in long. The ball ends up deep in the Barcelona half and Castillejo catches it on the half-volley, and isn't too far away from finding the top corner. Better from the away side.

Coutinho has been playing well over on the left tonight. He's a man in form at the minute. Take a look at his recent stats in front of goal...

9 - Philippe Coutinho has been directly involved in nine goals in his last 10 games for Barcelona in all competitions (four goals and five assists). Acclimated. pic.twitter.com/RsFEjtZvoc — OptaJose (@OptaJose) May 9, 2018

As things stand, Barcelona are on course for their 13th victory against Villarreal in the last 18 La Liga encounters. You have to go all the way back to March 2008 for the last time they lost this fixture.

Substitute Nicola Sansone pulls a goal back for Villarreal and it's one of the flukiest goals you'll ever see. Fornals shoots from inside the box and the ball deflects off his teammate and into the back of the net! Sansone knew nothing about that and there was even the hint of handball on his part. Villarreal will take it, though!

SUBSTITUTION: Villarreal could be on the comeback trail now, and they've just thrown on fresh legs by replacing Manu Trigueros with Javi Fuego.

The vistors are playing with more attacking intent now and the away fans are responding to that. Barca look like they are preparing to make a change as Luis Suarez is warming up on the touchline.

SUBSTITUTION: On comes Suarez and Iniesta is the man to replace him. The noise from the home and away fans is absolutely incredible as they acknowledge this legend of the Spanish game.

Here are the scenes as Iniesta headed for the dugout...

📍 Camp Nou
Iniestaaaa, Iniestaaaa
🔵🔴 pic.twitter.com/dmv7zty9VB — FC Barcelona 🏆🏆 (@FCBarcelona) May 9, 2018

SUBSTITUTION: Barca throw on another of their big guns as Ivan Rakitic enters the fray. Busquets is the one to make way.

Bacca swivels on the edge of the Barcelona box and gets a shot away. Unfortunatelty for him and Villarreal, it's straight at Cillessen, who makes a comfortable save.

The Colombian striker applies pressure on Barca again, this time while chasing down Castillejo's through-ball, but he times his run all wrong and is caught offside.

SUBSTITUTION: And being caught in the offside trap is Bacca's final contribution of the match. He is taken off and replaced with Enes Unal for the final 20 minutes.

BOOKING! Fuego goes flying into Messi with an overzealous challenge and is shown a yellow card for his efforts.

GOAL DISALLOWED! Coutinho thinks he has scored his second of the night after firing Dembele's cutback over the line, but an offside flag cuts short his celebrations. It was the right call by the linesman, too.

SHOT! Sansone goes in search of his second of the evening, and this one would have been more intentional. The Italian lets fly from 25 yards with an absolute screamer, putting it just inches over the bar!

Suarez causes the Villarreal defence a few problems as he twists and turns in the penalty area and prepares to pull the trigger. Everyone in a yellow shirt looks relieved when the offside flag goes up.

SUBSTITUTION: Barcelona's final change sees Yerry Mina take the place of Pique as the hosts look to see this game out.

BOOKING! Gaspar goes into the book for a hefty challenge on Dinge. He can have no complaints about being penalised for that clumsy lunge!

Rodri goes for goal and Sansone once again gets in the way, except this time he deflects the ball not into the back of the net, but out for a goalkick.

There's a half-chance for Barca as Messi shoots first time from 20 yards, but Ruiz is there to take the sting out of the Argentine's effort.

Dembele adds a fourth for Barca to add some gloss to the scoreline but it's substitute Ivan Rakitic who should take all of the credit. Rakitic ran the Villarreal defence ragged and laid the ball on platter for his teammate to stroke over the line.

Ousmane Dembele adds further gloss to the final scoreline with a beautiful chipped finish from close range. He plays a neat one-two with Mina before dinking the ball over the goalkeeper to make it 5-1 to the hosts.

There will be three minutes of stoppage time to play.

A five-star performance from Barcelona sees them hammer Villarreal at the Camp Nou and move within two games of a historic unbeaten domestic season. That's all we have time for tonight but stick with Sports Mole for our ongoing coverage of this evening's biggest matches. Many thanks for joining us.