In the last nine seasons, Villareal, while maintaining generally high standards, has never gone beyond fifth place, which is precisely the current position of Marcellino's team, who, in this 2024/2025, wants to outdo themselves, trying to take fourth place and then return to play in the Champions League. To do so, Villareal will have to continue to march following the recent, high and winning rhythms starting from the next match that will see them opposed, at home, to the newly promoted Espanyol. The Barcelona team is coming off a key success against Alaves that has placed them four points away from the fourth-last place, in a safety zone albeit limited but it was perhaps the previous result, the draw against Atletico Bilbao that paradoxically gave more conviction to the white-blues. Now, for Manolo Gonzales' team, another very tough match not only for Villareal's standings but also for the precedents which, in all the last four occasions in which the two teammates have faced each other, have always seen the yellows triumph.

Villareal's shape and key statistics

4 wins and 2 draws in the last 6 La Liga games give the impression of a team in form and on the rise. Villareal is fifth in the league but boasts the third best attack which, therefore, has scored more than Atletico Madrid.

Marcelino's team has the same pace between home and away but, at the Estadio de la Ceramica, has achieved positive results in 8 of the last 9 games.

Espanyol's shape and key statistics

For a team in the midst of a relegation battle, only 1 defeat (also at Real Sociedad) in the last 7 games is a good cross-section, highlighted by the 1-0 success against Real Madrid on February 1st.

If for Villareal, between home and away it changes little, for Espanyol it definitely doesn't! In 12 away games, the white and blues have earned only 5 points, winning only once, which was also the last time, against Alaves.

Currently, Espanyol is in fifteenth place in the standings.

Villareal – Espanyol Prediction and Tactical Analysis

There are no disqualified players on either side and the unavailable players count is even. While it is true that Espanyol recently won their first away game of the season, it is also true that Villareal have been on a positive streak for several matches and have won three of the last four. With Ayoze Perez, in particular, really in form both in general and in the goal area, Villareal, who also won the first leg, still start as the favorites and the BetMines prediction algorithm confirms this prediction by indicating the 1 sign as the most probable.

• BetMines algorithm prediction for Villareal - Espanyol match predicts 1 at 61%
• BetMines algorithm prediction for Villareal - Espanyol match predicts X at 22%
• BetMines algorithm prediction for Villareal - Espanyol match predicts 2 at 17%

Villareal - Espanyol Predicted Lineups

Villareal (4-4-2): Conde; Foyth, Costa, Kambwala, Cardona; Pepe, Parejo, Gueye, Baena; Perez, Barry. Coach: Marcelino.

Espanyol (4-3-3): Garcia; El Hilali, Kumbulla, Cabrera, Olivan; Lozano, Zarate, Kral; Carreras, Fernandez, Puado. Coach: Gonzales.