Villarreal will be aiming to end what has been an excellent season on a positive note when welcome struggling Sevilla on Sunday afternoon.
The Yellow Submarine have secured fifth spot in the La Liga table and a position in the league stage of the 2025-26 Champions League, but Sevilla, who have had another highly disappointing campaign, could finish as low as 17th.
Match preview
© Imago
Villarreal have been a terrific watch in La Liga this season, scoring 67 times in their 37 matches, which is the third-best attacking record in the division behind Barcelona and Real Madrid.
The Yellow Submarine have a record of 19 wins, 10 draws and eight defeats from their 37 league games this term, with 67 points leaving them in fifth spot, and Champions League football for the 2025-26 campaign has been secured.
Marcelino's side can join fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao on 70 points, but they would still finish fifth, as the Basque outfit have the superior record in the head-to-head meetings between the two teams this term.
Villarreal have posted five straight wins in Spain's top flight, including a 3-2 success over the champions Barcelona last time out, so they will be looking to make it six victories in a row on Sunday afternoon.
The Yellow Submarine last competed in the Champions League during the 2021-22 campaign, making it all the way to the semi-finals of the competition before losing 5-2 on aggregate to Liverpool.
© Imago
Sevilla, meanwhile, finished 14th in La Liga last season, which proved to be their lowest spot since being relegated in 2000.
It has got even worse for the strugglers this term, with the team currently in 16th, and they are only two points above 17th-placed Espanyol, so the position just outside the relegation zone could be their final spot in the table.
That said, Los Nervionenses could finish in 13th if they beat Villarreal and other results go in their favour.
Joaquin Caparros's side managed to record a huge 1-0 victory over fellow strugglers Las Palmas in their last match in front of their own fans on May 13, but they will enter this game off the back of a 2-0 home loss to Real Madrid.
Sevilla have only been victorious in four of their 18 away league matches during the 2024-25 campaign, while they have been beaten in their last two matches against Villarreal, including a 2-1 reverse at Estadio Ramon earlier this season.
Team News
© Imago
Villarreal will again be without the services of long-term absentee Ilias Akhomach due to a knee injury, while Ayoze Perez, Raul Albiol and Yeremy Pino are all doubts for this weekend's contest.
Head coach Marcelino is unlikely to risk Perez from the first whistle, so there could be a spot in the final third of the field for Thierno Barry, who has scored 11 league goals during a successful first season at the club.
Pino's likely absence could also open the door for Tajon Buchanan, who scored against Barcelona, to feature in a wide area.
As for Sevilla, Isaac Romero and Loic Bade are both suspended following their red cards in the defeat to Real Madrid last time out.
Meanwhile, Akor Adams, Saul Niguez, Ruben Vargas and Tanguy Nianzou are all likely to miss out through injury, so the visitors could be without the services of six players for the clash with Villarreal.
Dodi Lukebakio has been Sevilla's standout player during the 2024-25 campaign, finding the back of the net on 11 occasions in Spain's top flight, and there will be another spot in the XI for the 27-year-old this weekend.
Villarreal possible starting lineup:
Luiz Junior; Navarro, Foyth, L Costa, S Cardona; Pepe, Comesana, Parejo, Buchanan; Barry, Baena
Sevilla possible starting lineup:
Nyland; Juanlu, Marcao, Salas, Carmona; Lukebakio, Gudelj, Agoume, Sow; Suso, A Garcia
We say: Villarreal 2-0 Sevilla
Villarreal are on a roll at the moment, and we are finding it very difficult to back a disappointing Sevilla outfit to halt the Yellow Submarine - it should be a relatively routine home victory for Marcelino's side in their final game of the campaign.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
VOTE IN THE 2024-25 SPORTS MOLE READERS' AWARDS!
Voting is now open for the annual Sports Mole Readers' Awards, where you can pick your player of the season, manager of the season, signing of the season and much more.
Click here to make your selections, and the winners will be announced on Monday, May 26!
Matt Law
