Villarreal's pursuit of fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao will continue on Monday evening, when the Yellow Submarine welcome an in-form Espanyol to Estadio de la Ceramica.
The hosts are currently fifth in the La Liga table, four points behind fourth-placed Athletic, while Espanyol occupy 15th, now four points outside of the relegation zone.
Match preview
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Villarreal have a record of 12 wins, eight draws and five defeats from their 25 league matches this season, with a total of 44 points leaving them in fifth spot in the table, four points behind fourth-placed Athletic ahead of this weekend's fixtures.
The Yellow Submarine are nine points ahead of sixth-placed Rayo Vallecano, meanwhile, so they are certainly looking up the division rather than down at this stage, with a top-four position certainly an achievable target.
Villarreal will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano, and they have now been victorious in three of their last four matches, with Marcelino's side in strong form at a vital stage of the campaign.
El Submarino Amarillo have four wins and two draws from their last six games in Spain's top flight, and the fact that they have no European football could aid them in their pursuit of the top four.
Villarreal have 20 points to show from their 12 home league matches during the 2024-25 campaign, but they have actually performed better on their travels this term, boasting the second-best away record in the league behind Barcelona.
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Espanyol, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 victory over Alaves, with Fernando Calero netting the only goal of the match in the 86th minute to secure a vital three points.
The Catalan outfit have only been beaten in one of their last seven in the league, recording three wins in the process, with that strong run of form seeing them rise out of the relegation zone and into 15th.
Manolo Gonzalez's side have a record of seven wins, six draws and 12 defeats from their 25 league matches this season, and they are currently four points clear of the bottom three and only four points off Girona in 13th.
Espanyol will be coming up against the third-best attack in La Liga this season, with Villarreal finding the back of the net on 48 occasions, but it has been a lot more difficult for the visitors, only managing 24 goals in their 25 matches.
The White and Blues have lost each of their last four La Liga games against Villarreal, including a 2-1 reverse earlier this season, while they were beaten 4-2 in the corresponding fixture during the 2023-24 campaign.
Team News
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Villarreal will be without the services of Gerard Moreno and Ilias Akhomach due to injury problems, while Kiko Femenia remains a doubt, with the defender set to undergo a late fitness test.
Head coach Marcelino is likely to have the same squad available from the clash against Rayo Vallecano, and it could be the same XI, with Ayoze Perez again featuring in the final third of the field.
Perez has 11 La Liga goals during the 2024-25 campaign, and he is set to be joined by Thierno Barry, while Yeremy Pino and Alex Baena are likely to feature in the wide positions for the Yellow Submarine.
As for Espanyol, Fernando Pacheco, Jose Gragera and Pere Milla will miss the match due to injury problems.
Roberto Fernandez has scored twice in six appearances for Espanyol since arriving on loan from Braga during the January transfer window, and the Spaniard will again operate in the final third of the field.
Javi Puado has been another standout performer for the Catalan side during the 2024-25 campaign, scoring eight times in Spain's top flight, and there will once again be a spot in a wide area for the 26-year-old.
Villarreal possible starting lineup:
Conde; Foyth, Kambwala, Costa, S Cardona; Pino, Comesana, Gueye, Baena; Perez, Barry
Espanyol possible starting lineup:
Garcia; El Hilali, Kumbulla, Cabrera, Romero; Lozano, Gonzalez; Carreras, Kral, Puado; Fernandez
We say: Villarreal 2-1 Espanyol
Espanyol are in a good place at the moment, and the Catalan outfit will be confident of picking up a positive result on Monday night; Villarreal's form is strong, though, and we are expecting the Yellow Submarine to navigate their way to an important three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
