Elche vs Villarreal: Prediction, Team News, and Lineups Preview

Villarreal will face Elche in a crucial La Liga match on Saturday evening. The Yellow Submarine sits in fourth place in the league, trailing third-place Atletico Madrid by just two points, while Elche occupies the ninth spot with 22 points from 17 matches.

Match Preview

Elche has had a productive season, recording five wins, seven draws, and five losses. They notably concluded 2025 with a dominant 4-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano and have been on a roll, winning four of their last five matches. The promoted team has not lost at home this season, securing five wins and four draws in nine matches.

In the previous showdown at this venue, Elche emerged victorious with a 3-1 win over Villarreal in March 2023. However, Villarreal claimed a commanding 4-0 victory in their last encounter earlier this season.

Villarreal’s Standings and Recent Performance

Villarreal boasts 11 wins, two draws, and three defeats from their first 16 league matches, giving them 35 points. They are currently 11 points behind leaders Barcelona and have two games in hand on the top three teams. Despite recent struggles, including three consecutive losses in all competitions, Villarreal previously maintained an impressive six-game winning streak in La Liga.

Team News

Elche will be missing on-loan Barcelona defender Hector Fort for two months due to a dislocated shoulder. Additionally, Andre Silva and Grady Diangana are also sidelined. Federico Redonda will serve a suspension from a red card incident against Rayo Vallecano.

• Possible Elche lineup: Pena; Donald, Affengruber, Bigas; Neto, Nunez, Aguado, Febas, Valera; Rodriguez, Mir

For Villarreal, several players are unavailable due to suspensions and injuries. Tajon Buchanan and Renato Veiga will miss the match due to suspensions. Ilias Akhomach and Pape Gueye are participating in the Africa Cup of Nations. Injuries affect Alfonso Pedraza and others, but there are hopes that Juan Foyth will return to action.

• Possible Villarreal lineup: Luiz Junior; Navarro, Marin, Foyth, Cardona; Pepe, Comesana, Parejo, Moleiro; Mikautadze, Perez

Match Prediction

It is anticipated that the match will be competitive, considering Elche’s strong home performance. A score draw of 1-1 is a likely outcome, reflecting Villarreal’s recent struggles despite their strong La Liga form earlier in the season.