Villarreal vs Espanyol Prediction & Tips
Villarreal has fully entered the fight for qualification for European competitions thanks to an impressive harvest of 23 points from the last 30 possible (G7, E2, P1). Sixth before matchday 26 of LaLiga Santander (LL), the team from Castellón will seek to continue on the good line against Espanyol, whom they have won in only one of their last nine official matches (G1, E5, P3).
In the first round, Espanyol and Villarreal drew 0-0 at the RCDE Stadium, and this meeting was the second of the 11 LL matches in which the Yellow Submarine have kept a clean sheet this season. Villarreal has scored nine goals and conceded only one in the last four days (G3, E1), but it will be difficult for Unai Emery’s team to keep their goal unbeaten against the parakeets, who link seven official outings scoring and have scored in his three previous visits to the Estadio de la Cerámica.
In contrast to the good moment of their host, Espanyol (14th after J25) has accumulated six consecutive games without winning (E3, P3) and continues to fall in the table, although it reaches the match after drawing with two clubs from the high zone (Barcelona and Seville). To achieve their first LL win of 2022, the performance of a defense that has conceded two or more goals in five of the last six league games will be key.
Vicente Moreno’s squad came into the break from behind on the scoreboard against Sevilla (36′, Rafa Mir) last day, but the parakeets have been especially vulnerable in the initial stretch of the second half: Espanyol registers the highest number of goals conceded between minutes 46 and 60 (nine) in the current championship.
Players to watch: In his last three official matches at La Ceramica, groguet midfielder Dani Parejo has scored two second-half goals in his last three official matches at La Ceramica. Top national scorer at the start of this matchday with 13 goals, striker Raúl de Tomás has been directly involved in six goals (G5, A1) in his previous six LL games with Espanyol. Each of his two away goals during that series came after the 80th minute.
Important fact: Espanyol is the team against which Unai Emery has achieved the most official victories as manager (14).
Villarreal – Espanyol FREE TIPS
Villarreal – Win @ 2.25
