Prediction: Villarreal vs Espanyol

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 2/5

Bookmaker: Luckster

Villarreal will continue their chase for fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao on Monday evening when they host an in-form Espanyol at Estadio de la Cerámica.

Currently sitting fifth in La Liga, the Yellow Submarine trail Athletic by four points, while Espanyol, positioned 15th, have created a four-point cushion above the relegation zone.

Villarreal

Villarreal have recorded 12 wins, eight draws, and five defeats from 25 La Liga matches this season, accumulating 44 points to sit fifth in the table, four points adrift of fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao ahead of the weekend’s fixtures.

Firmly in the hunt for a top-four finish, the Yellow Submarine hold a nine-point cushion over sixth-placed Rayo Vallecano, allowing them to focus on climbing rather than looking over their shoulders.

Marcelino’s side enter this clash on the back of a 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano, marking their third win in four outings. With four wins and two draws in their last six league games, they are hitting form at a crucial stage of the campaign.

The absence of European commitments could further boost their push for Champions League qualification. While Villarreal have collected 20 points from 12 home league matches this season, their strongest performances have come on the road, where they boast La Liga’s second-best away record, trailing only Barcelona.

Team News

Villarreal will be without Gerard Moreno and Ilias Akhomach due to injuries, while Kiko Femenia remains a doubt and will undergo a late fitness test.

Head coach Marcelino is expected to have the same squad available from the win over Rayo Vallecano, potentially naming an unchanged starting XI.

Ayoze Perez, who has netted 11 La Liga goals this season, is set to lead the attack alongside Thierno Barry, with Yeremy Pino and Alex Baena likely to occupy the wide positions.

Espanyol

Espanyol head into this match following a crucial 1-0 victory over Alaves, with Fernando Calero scoring the decisive goal in the 86th minute to secure all three points.

Manolo Gonzalez’s side have lost just once in their last seven league matches, winning three, a run that has lifted them out of the relegation zone and into 15th place.

With a record of seven wins, six draws, and 12 defeats from 25 La Liga games, Espanyol sit four points clear of the bottom three and just four behind 13th-placed Girona.

However, they face a tough challenge against one of La Liga’s most potent attacks – Villarreal have netted 48 goals this season, the third-most in the division, whereas Espanyol have struggled in front of goal, scoring just 24 times in as many matches.

History is also against the visitors, having lost their last four league meetings with Villarreal, including a 2-1 defeat earlier this season and a 4-2 loss in last year’s corresponding fixture.

Team News

Fernando Pacheco, Jose Gragera, and Pere Milla will be unavailable for Espanyol due to injuries.

Since joining on loan from Braga in January, Roberto Fernandez has made an impact with two goals in six appearances and is set to feature again in the final third.

Javi Puado has also been a key performer for the Catalan side this season, netting eight times in La Liga, and the 26-year-old is expected to retain his spot on the wing.

Conclusion

Espanyol will have a certain dose of confidence about them at the moment, but they’re still likely to find the task of facing Villarreal too much for their quality.

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 2/5

Bookmaker: Luckster