Villarreal – Espanyol : Preview & Prediction
With two defeats in LaLiga Santander (LL) in eight days, both by 2-1 and after arriving at halftime with the score against them and with no goals scored, Villarreal’s chances of fighting for a place in the next edition of the Champions League have been seriously reduced. The groguets are still in a good position to qualify for one of the other European competitions, but another slip-up against Espanyol (19th) would have very negative consequences for Quique Setién’s team.
The Castellon side are clear favorites against a team at risk of relegation and whom they manhandled last season (5-1), although that was their first home win over Los Pericos since March 2017 (E3, P1). It should be noted that Villarreal have picked up 12 points from a possible 12 in the duels they have played at the Estadio de la Cerámica against clubs ranked in the bottom five positions at the start of this matchday.
Forced to win in one of the most difficult places in the division, Espanyol were held to a 0-0 draw by Cadiz – the Blue and Whites at least ended a dreadful six-game losing streak – and head into matchday 31 two points from the safety zone. Luis García’s team, which has yet to win as Perico coach (E1, P2), faces an extremely difficult schedule that includes games against Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid.
Espanyol will have to do very well at La Cerámica to take three vital points; the Barcelona side have lost four away games in a row, and their last two away league victories were against teams in the fight against relegation (Getafe and Elche). Los Pericos have serious defensive problems, but away from home they have ten LL matches on goal (G2, E3, P5), although they have scored only one goal in each of their six most recent matches (G1, P5).
Players to watch: Yeremy Pino scored a hat-trick for Villarreal in Espanyol’s visit to La Ceramica in LL 2021-22, but the Canary Islands winger has just three goals so far in the current campaign. Martin Braithwaite has scored two of Espanyol’s last four away goals in LL, both after the 70th min.
Key stat: Espanyol have the worst record in the first halves of their LL matches this season (G1, E14, P15).
Villarreal – Espanyol : Betting Tips
Villarreal – Win Odds: 1.55
