Valencia Hosts Villarreal in Crucial La Liga Clash
This Saturday, Mestalla is set to host a fiery La Liga showdown as Valencia takes on Villarreal in what promises to be a thrilling regional derby. The Yellow Submarine, currently sitting third in the table with 17 points from nine matches, are aiming to return to winning ways after a challenging week that included a 2-0 home defeat to Manchester City in the Champions League. Meanwhile, Valencia are struggling at 14th place, having accumulated just nine points, leaving them only three points above the relegation zone.
Valencia’s start to the season has been underwhelming, with only two wins, three draws, and four defeats so far. Their victories have come exclusively at home against Getafe and Athletic Bilbao, though they were shockingly beaten 2-1 by 10-man Real Oviedo in late September. Coach Carlos Corberán’s side have collected only two points from their last four matches, including a goalless draw against Alaves. Last season, Valencia finished 12th in La Liga, so clearly, there is plenty of room for improvement, and their fans will be eager to see a renewed sense of commitment and performance against Villarreal.
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Historically, Valencia have struggled to beat Villarreal in recent encounters. Both league meetings last term ended in 1-1 draws, and Valencia’s last victory over the Yellow Submarine came in January 2024. Villarreal, under Marcelino, have lost just once in their last seven La Liga meetings with Valencia and will be looking to end a four-game winless streak across all competitions. Their recent league form includes a loss to Real Madrid and a 2-2 draw with Real Betis, highlighting a need to bounce back on the road, where they have won only once this season.
Team news for Valencia sees the absence of Mouctar Diakhaby and Largie Ramazani, with fitness checks pending on Filip Ugrinic and Dimitri Foulquier. Expect a familiar lineup with Javi Guerra and Pepelu anchoring the midfield, while Hugo Duro and Arnaut Danjuma, who have already scored six goals between them this season, lead the attack. Villarreal will be without Logan Costa, Willy Kambwala, and Pau Cabanes, but Ayoze Perez and Sergi Cardona are set to return, adding fresh options for Marcelino.
The atmosphere at Mestalla will be electric, with Valencia drawing motivation from their passionate fans. Corberán has emphasized that while formations may adapt to the match, the team’s mentality and competitive edge will be key to improving performance. Villarreal, despite a tiring Champions League midweek, are expected to leverage their experience and quality to secure a crucial three points.
All signs point to a hard-fought contest, but experts are backing Villarreal to edge Valencia 2-1, taking advantage of their superior form and attacking depth, while Valencia will rely on home support and resilience to challenge the visitors. This derby is more than just points; it’s about pride, momentum, and setting the tone for the remainder of the season.
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