Villarreal will be looking to maintain their impressive form against Espanyol when the two sides meet in their latest La Liga fixture. The Yellow Submarine head into the encounter with renewed confidence after securing consecutive victories across competitions, while Espanyol are desperate to stop a worrying run of defeats.
Villarreal’s most recent league outing ended in a 2-1 away victory over Valencia at the Estadio Mestalla. Marcelino’s men controlled much of the contest, enjoying 62% possession and registering three shots on target. Alex Freeman and Georges Mikautadze were the goalscorers as Villarreal claimed all three points.
Their impressive form continued in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday night, when they cruised to a convincing 5-0 away victory over CD Manacor.
Espanyol, meanwhile, are experiencing a difficult spell. Manolo González’s side have suffered consecutive La Liga defeats, with their latest setback coming in a 2-1 loss against Racing Club Santander at the Estadio El Sardinero. Espanyol struggled to make an impact, managing just one shot on target and 45% possession, although Edu Expósito found the net.
Their disappointment continued in the Copa del Rey, where they were eliminated following a dramatic 4-3 extra-time defeat against Sestao. The match had finished 2-2 after 90 minutes before Espanyol eventually suffered another painful loss.
Head-to-Head: Villarreal Have Dominated Recent Meetings
Recent history strongly favours Villarreal heading into this encounter. The Yellow Submarine have won their last seven meetings with Espanyol, establishing a clear advantage over their opponents.
Their most recent meeting ended in a comfortable 4-1 victory for Villarreal at the Estadio de la Cerámica.
Looking at the last 10 head-to-head encounters, Villarreal have recorded eight victories, while Espanyol have managed just one win, with the remaining fixture ending in a draw.
This impressive record will give Villarreal additional confidence as they look to continue their dominance.
Villarreal: Recent Form and Key Players
Across their last 10 league matches, Villarreal have recorded three victories, four defeats and three draws. They have averaged 1.5 goals per game, producing approximately six shots on target from 16.2 attempts.
Their average possession stands at 60.5%, highlighting their preference for controlling games through possession and patient build-up play. They have also averaged 570 passes and 7.3 corners per match.
Defensively, Villarreal have conceded an average of 1.4 goals per game, allowing approximately 3.6 shots on target and 11.8 total attempts.
Georges Mikautadze and Pape Gueye are among the team’s leading goalscorers with three goals each, while Alberto Moleiro has contributed two goals.
Moleiro has also been particularly influential in the creative department, leading the team’s assist chart with four assists. Goalkeeper Peter Gulácsi has recorded one clean sheet during the period.
Espanyol: Recent Form and Key Players
Espanyol’s recent league performances have been far from convincing. In their last 10 La Liga matches, they have managed just two victories, alongside six defeats and two draws.
Manolo González’s team have averaged 1.2 goals per game, with 11.6 attempts and 3.4 shots on target. Their average possession of 45.1% suggests they have struggled to control matches consistently.
They have also recorded an average of 374.8 passes and 2.5 corners per game, while conceding 1.4 goals and allowing opponents an average of 5.4 shots on target.
Roberto Fernández has been Espanyol’s most reliable goalscoring threat, finding the net six times across their last 10 league matches.
Edu Expósito, Bryan Zaragoza, Marcos Fernández and Alex Calatrava have contributed one goal each. Javi Hernández leads the assist rankings with six, while goalkeeper Marko Dmitrović has kept two clean sheets.
With their recent struggles and poor record against Villarreal, Espanyol will need a significant improvement if they are to get a positive result.
Confirmed Lineups
Both teams have confirmed their starting formations ahead of the encounter.
Villarreal (4-4-2): Peter Gulácsi; Santiago Mouriño, Pau Navarro, Renato Veiga, Sergi Cardona; Tajon Buchanan, Carlos Macià, Santi Comesaña, Alberto Moleiro; Gerard Moreno, Georges Mikautadze.
Espanyol (4-2-3-1): Ángel Fortuño; Omar El Hilali, Vanja Drkusic, Leandro Cabrera, Roger Hinojo; Rafel Bauzà, Edu Expósito; Alejandro Santiago, Javi Hernández, Bryan Zaragoza; Roberto Fernández.
Match Outlook
Villarreal appear to have the advantage heading into this fixture, particularly given their recent victories, stronger attacking options and remarkable dominance in previous meetings.
Espanyol, on the other hand, must find a way to recover from consecutive league defeats and their disappointing Copa del Rey exit.
With Georges Mikautadze and Gerard Moreno leading the Villarreal attack, the hosts will fancy their chances of extending their winning streak against Espanyol. However, the visitors will be determined to end their poor run and produce a much-needed response.