Espanyol vs Villarreal: Match Prediction, Team News, and Lineups

On Saturday night, Espanyol will host Villarreal in a crucial La Liga match at RCDE Stadium. Villarreal aims to secure their third consecutive victory in the league after an impressive start to the season.

Match Overview: Espanyol vs Villarreal

Currently, Villarreal sits third in the La Liga standings, seven points behind leaders Real Madrid. Espanyol, meanwhile, occupies sixth place with 18 points from 11 matches, just four points shy of fourth-placed Atletico Madrid.

Espanyol’s Recent Performance

Espanyol has shown resilience this season, recording five wins, three draws, and three losses. Despite this positive trend, their recent form includes a disappointing 2-1 loss to 10-man Alaves, highlighting the challenges they face in maintaining consistency.

Villarreal’s Season So Far

Villarreal enters this match with a strong league record of seven wins, two draws, and two losses from 11 games. The team is currently on a two-match winning streak following victories over Valencia and Rayo Vallecano. However, they faced a setback in the Champions League, suffering a 1-0 defeat to FC Pafos.

Historical Context

• Espanyol has won only 12 of their last 54 meetings with Villarreal across all competitions.
• They have not defeated Villarreal in La Liga since January 2020.
• Villarreal dominated their previous encounters, winning both league matches last season (2-1 and 1-0).

Team News

Espanyol’s Lineup

Espanyol will miss Javi Puado due to injury but remains in good shape for the fixture. Key players for the hosts include:

• Pere Milla, who has scored four goals this season.
• Roberto Fernandez, contributing two goals and three assists.
• Charles Pickel in midfield.

Expected starting XI: Dmitrovic; El Hilali, Riedel, Cabrera, Romero; Exposito, Lozano; Dolan, Pickel, Milla; Fernandez.

Villarreal’s Lineup

Villarreal will be without Logan Costa, Willy Kambwala, and Pau Cabanes due to injuries. Head coach Marcelino is likely to adjust the lineup following their Champions League defeat, possibly including:

• Gerard Moreno
• Santi Comesana
• Thomas Partey
• Alfonso Pedraza

Expected starting XI: Junior; Mourino, Veiga, Foyth, Pedraza; Buchanan, Partey, Comesana, Moleiro; Moreno, Mikautadze.

Match Prediction

Given the attacking potential of both teams, a high-scoring match is anticipated. Historically, their last five encounters have produced 17 goals. A draw seems the most likely outcome, with predictions leaning towards a 2-2 finish.