Villarreal vs Espanyol Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
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After a tough start to the campaign, Villarreal have improved as the season has developed as they now welcome a struggling Espanyol side to El Madrigal.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / 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 – Premier Player / USA – ESPN+
Villarreal preview: Improving Villarreal
Inigo Perez suffered from some teething issues at the start of this season as he attempted to get Villarreal to play a more proactive style this season but The Yellow Submarine have begun to find some form as they push up the table.
Villarreal hammered Manacor by five goals to nil in Majorca in midweek in the Copa del Rey, with that following up a dramatic 2-1 defeat of regional rivals Valencia at Mestalla last week, courtesy of a 96th minute winner scored by Georges Mikautadze.
Espanyol preview: Poor Espanyol
Manolo Gonzalez oversaw an immense collapse in Espanyol’s form in the second half of last season and the Catalans have struggled again this time around with the former B team coach having now been relieved of his duties on Wednesday.
That decision comes after Espanyol were eliminated from the Copa del Rey by fourth-tier outfit Sestao in the Basque Country on Tuesday. Espanyol had snatched two penalties to take the game to extra-time and even then went ahead before a dramatic Sestao turnaround.
Villarreal team news: Gueye suspended
In that fiery derby against Valencia, Pape Gueye was sent off and is now missing through suspension for this one. Ilias Akhomach is a fresh injury concern, too, after being forced off in midweek. He joins Carlos Romero and Nathan Saliba in being a major doubt for this one.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Gulacsi; Santiago Mourino, Foyth, Veiga, Freeman; Alberto Moleiro, Carlos Macia, Santi Comesana, Buchanan; Gerard, Mikautadze
Unavailable: Gueye (Suspended)
Questionable: Carlos Romero (Injured), Saliba (Injured), Akhomach (Injured)
Espanyol team news: Nothing fresh
Having welcomed long-term absentee Javi Puado back into the first-team fold, Espanyol remain without the versatile Jofre Carreras and striker Kike for their trip to the Community of Valencia.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Dmitrovic; El Hilali, Drkusic, Leandro Cabrera, Hartman; Alex Calatrava, Edu Exposito, Pol Lozano, Bryan Zaragoza; Roberto Fernandez, Javi Hernandez
Unavailable: Jofre Carreras (Injured), Kike (Injured)
Questionable:
Key stats
- Villarreal have won the last seven La Liga meetings with Espanyol, scoring 19 goals and conceding five in that run.
- Villarreal are unbeaten in eight La Liga games against Espanyol since a 2-1 home defeat on 19 January 2020 – still Espanyol's most recent win in the fixture.
- Villarreal lead the head-to-head in 48 La Liga meetings since 1997/98 (W21 D20 L7) – no opponent has drawn with Villarreal more often in that time.
- Espanyol have won only three of their 24 La Liga visits to Villarreal since 1997/98 (W3 D8 L13).
- Villarreal's joint-biggest wins in the fixture since 1997/98 are by four goals – most recently 5-1 at home on 27 February 2022, and three 4-0 home wins (2001, 2006 and 2010).
- Coming into Matchweek 11, Villarreal have 12 points from ten games (W3 D3 L4), level with Athletic Club, Alavés and Celta, while Espanyol are 17th with eight points.
- Villarreal are unbeaten in two (W1 D1) after a 0-0 home draw with Elche and a 2-1 win at Valencia last time out.
- Villarreal have won only one of their four home games this season (W1 D1 L2), having won 15 of 19 at home in 2025/26 (W15 D1 L3).
- Espanyol are winless in five La Liga games (D1 L4) since a 2-0 win at Osasuna on 12 September, and have conceded in all five.
- Espanyol's eight points after ten games is their joint-third-lowest total at this stage since 1997/98 – only 2003/04 (five) and 2002/03 (seven) were worse in 27 previous seasons.
- Espanyol have scored in seven consecutive away La Liga games, a run that started on 9 May 2026.
- Villarreal have lost only one of 13 home La Liga games on a Friday since 1997/98 (W9 D3 L1), while Espanyol have won just five of 27 away Friday games (W5 D11 L11).
‘Key stats’ are La Liga only (not all competitions)
Villarreal vs Espanyol prediction
Espanyol head to Estadio de la Ceramica without a permanent head coach at the time of writing and there are concerns about the overall direction of the club, especially given how owner Alan Pace has overseen the major regression of his other club, Burnley. Villarreal’s defeat of Manacor in midweek means that they have now lost just two, away at Real Madrid and away at Liverpool, in their last eight matches across all competitions and a home win is to be expected for this one on Friday.
Villarreal vs Espanyol tip: Villarreal to win
