Both Villarreal and Valencia will continue their respective campaigns in Sunday night’s clash, as they aim for back-to-back wins in Spain’s top flight.
Villarreal is in 3rd place la liga standingsThey are three points behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid, while Valencia are in 15th place, two points out of the relegation zone.
match preview
Villarreal have a record of 15 wins, 3 draws and 6 losses in 24 league games this season, and are in 3rd place with 48 points, 3 points behind 4th place Atlético.
The Yellow Submarine are seven points clear of fifth-placed Real Betis and are in a good position to qualify for next season’s Champions League, and will look to extend their winning streak in Spain’s top flight when they host Valencia on Sunday.
Marcelino’s side come into this game on the back of a 1-0 win against Levante on Wednesday night, but their last home game on February 9th saw them beat Espanyol 4-1.
Villarreal have been doing well at home this season, picking up 28 points from 12 games, while Valencia have only picked up nine points from 12 games on the road.
Yellow Submarine recorded a 2-0 victory over Valencia in a come-from-behind game earlier this season, but won 1-1 in the corresponding encounter in 2024-25.
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Valencia’s last game was against Levante, where they won 2-0, taking their tally to 26 points from 24 league games this season.
Los Che are just two points clear of the relegation zone and are certainly in the midst of a relegation battle at this stage of the campaign.
Valencia have struggled defensively this season, conceding 37 goals in 24 games, which is a cause for concern ahead of important matches.
Carlos Corberan’s team has lost three of their past four official games, but have won four since the beginning of the year.
In fact, Valencia leads Villarreal in their overall head-to-head record, with 25 wins and 23 losses in their last 61 meetings.
Villarreal La Liga form:
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Villarreal form (all matches):
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Valencia La Liga form:
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Valencia form (all competitions):
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team news
© Imago
Villarreal will be without Logan Costa, Juan Foyth and Pau Cabanes due to injury on Sunday, but Willy Kambwala, Gerard Moreno, Alfon Gonzalez and Rafa Marin are heavily doubted.
After the win against Levante, Alfonso Pedraza could be included in the starting XI, while Nicolas Pepe could be included in the attack alongside Georges Mikautadze.
Renato Veiga is also expected to be recalled to the defense for this contest.
As for Valencia, Mukhtar Diahaby, Julen Aguirrezabala, Dimitri Folquier and Diego López will be absent due to injury.
Los Che may introduce Guido Rodríguez into midfield here, but Corberan will be reluctant to make too many changes to the starting team that won 2-0 against Levante.
Hugo Duro has scored seven goals in 23 league games this season, and the Spaniard will once again feature in the final third of the field.
Villarreal’s projected starting lineup:
Junior; Mourino, Navarro, Veiga, Pedraza. Buchanan, Parejo, Guye, Moreiro. Mikautadze, Pepe
Possible starters for Valencia:
Dimitrievski; Nuñez, Comerto, Tarrega, Gaya. Rodriguez, Urginik. Ramazani, Beltran, Rioja. Duro
We say: Villarreal 1-0 Valencia
Villarreal will be wary of the threat that Valencia could pose on Sunday and it would not be a surprise if they share the points, but the extra quality from the home side should allow them to take all three points.
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