Valencia vs Villarreal predictions, H2H and match preview for this Saturday’s match in La Liga. Read on for analysis and predicted line-ups as these local rivals renew their hostilities at the Mestalla.
Valencia vs Villarreal Preview
It’s derby day in the Valencian region on Saturday as Valencia play host to Villarreal at the Mestalla. Los Che have enjoyed the better of the recent meetings and they head into this one as favourites despite some continuing injury problems.
Valencia were involved in a dramatic Champions League game in midweek. They drew 2-2 with Chelsea but will wonder just how they didn’t get the win they needed to secure qualification. Dani Parejo missed from 12 yards, Maxi Gomez squandered a First Half sitter and then Rodrigo Moreno missed two glorious chances in Stoppage Time that would have sealed a massive victory for Los Che. They’ll need to pick themselves up quickly though with only 72 hours to prepare for this one.
They face a Villarreal side that won’t be in the best of spirits. If Valencia’s wastefulness feels like a return to their struggles from early last term, the same could certainly be said of some of Villlarreal’s recent performances. The Yellow Submarine have only managed to take 1 point from their last 4 games and they haven’t even been particularly tough matches with Javi Calleja’s men defeated by struggling Mallorca, Eibar and Celta Vigo during that period.
This downturn in form came at a time when they were starting to look genuinely quite convincing with certainly more bite in the final third than they showed during the previous campaign. However their defensive fragilities have reared their ugly head again and Valencia will fancy they can ask plenty of questions of this Villarreal back line in this game.
Valencia vs Villarreal Predictions
Score Prediction: 3-1 Valencia
Villarreal are also missing Vicente Iborra to suspension here which adds to their problems as they would really have liked to have gone with their usual two holding midfielders in a tough game like this. There may be a few tired legs in the Valencia camp after their midweek exertions with Albert Celades short on cover in some key areas but he would have been delighted by how many chances his side created against Chelsea and he ought to be celebrating three points come Full-Time here given the way Villarreal have been playing in recent weeks.
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Valencia vs Villarreal H2H
- Last 6 competitive meetings: 3 Valencia Wins, 2 Villarreal Wins, 1 Draw.
- Valencia have won each of the last 3 meetings, 2 of which came in the Europa League last season.
- Villarreal have won on 3 of their last 4 league trips to the Mestalla though.
- The exception was a 3-0 defeat here last season.
Predicted Line Ups
Valencia Team:
Cillessen – Wass, Garay, Gabriel, Gaya – Ferran, Coquelin, Parejo, Soler – Rodrigo, Gomez (4-4-2)
Villarreal Team:
Asenjo – Pena, Albiol, Torres, Quintilla – Anguissa, Gomez, Cazorla – Moreno, Ekambi, Chukwueze (4-3-3)
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