Villarreal vs Elche Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
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Villarreal have discovered some form either side of the international break as The Yellow Submarine now welcome Elche to El Madrigal in a regional derby.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / USA – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so any game may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / USA – ESPN+
Villarreal preview: Brilliant Villarreal
Villarreal come into this one on the back of an impressive 3-1 defeat of Napoli in the UEFA Champions League in midweek, coming from behind with goals scored by Georges Mikautadze, Santiago Mourino and Tolu Oluwaseyi.
Inigo Perez’ side had begun the season without a win in their opening six games across all competitions before back-to-back 3-1 wins against Malaga and Levante before the break ahead of a hard-fought 1-0 loss to Real Madrid at the Bernabeu last week.
Elche preview: A battle beckons
Elche begin the ninth match day of the 2026-27 La Liga season in the bottom three and the relegation places with one win in eight matches, that victory coming when down to ten men after five minutes away at Espanyol just before the break.
The visitors continued a slight improvement in their performance level with a goalless draw against a stuttering Celta Vigo side at the Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero last weekend.
Villarreal team news: A few injuries
Tajon Buchanan sustained a hamstring injury on international duty with Canada. Nicolas Pepe succumbed to an eye injury at Madrid last week and now goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi is also unavailable.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Junior; Santiago Mourino, Pau Navarro, Veiga, Carlos Romero; Saliba, Santi Comesana, Gueye, Alberto Moleiro; Gerard, Mikautadze
Unavailable: Gulacsi (Injured), Buchanan (Injured), Pepe (Injured)
Questionable:
Elche team news: Sangare a doubt
Developing youngster Buba Sangare is now a doubt for the visitors after a hamstring tweak last week with Yago Santiago continuing to work his way back from full fitness.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Matias Dituro; Ruben Sanchez, Victor Chust, Pablo Bigas, Revivo; Tete Morente, Javi Morcillo, Gustavo Villar; German Valera, Fer Nino, Lemar
Unavailable:
Questionable: Sangare (Injured), Yago Santiago (Fitness)
Villarreal vs Elche prediction
Inigo Perez is attempting to implement a shift in the style of football at Villarreal, away from a more pragmatic and conservative approach to something far more intense and energetic. Teething issues were naturally expected but they have continued to develop and improve as the season has gone on and another comfortable victory is to be expected for the hosts at Estadio de la Ceramica.
Villarreal vs Elche tip: Villarreal to win -1 handicap
