Elche vs Villarreal match preview and predictions for Saturday’s LaLiga match. Read on for the head-to-head, team news and predicted lineups as two sides from the Valencian region meet.
- DATE: Saturday February 6th 2021
- KICK-OFF: 18:30 (local time)
- STADIUM: Manuel Martinez Valero
- COMPETITION: LaLiga
Elche vs Villarreal Preview
There’s another derby in the Valencian region of Spain on Saturday as Villarreal travel to face struggling Elche. Unai Emery’s side suffered a rare defeat in another regional dust-up against Levante in the Copa del Rey in midweek and will now be focused on maintaining their strong push for European qualification through the league.
Staying in LaLiga is all Elche are thinking about. That won’t be easy with Jorge Almiron’s side now just one place off the bottom of the division. They do have two games in hand on all the sides around them but right now they just don’t look like taking advantage of them and they are rightly the clear favourites for relegation.
They did some January business, bringing in Colombians Helibelton Palacios and Johan Mojica while keeper Paolo Gazzaniga arrived on loan from Tottenham. Of those trio, Mojica is perhaps the only likely starter and they didn’t really commit to making strong moves in the market that would have given Almiron a bit more to work with.
This is a game Villarreal will expect to go and win but they are in the habit of drawing games. 4 of their last 5 matches in all competitions have been level after 90 minutes. The only exception was a 1-0 win at Segunda Division Girona in the Copa del Rey and it’s clear they still have a few missing ingredients in terms of their transition into a really top side.
They are suffering from a few injury problems right now which has hampered them during this busy period in the season. They at least have a free midweek coming up now to try and rest up and get some players back before the European action starts. They have Gerard Moreno available again for this one but he could be used off the bench and that could be significant in the 2nd Half.
LaLiga Match Previews | Sorare Reviewed
Head to Head
- Last 6 Competitive Meetings: 2 Villarreal Wins, 4 Draws.
- Villarreal have won on 2 of their last 3 trips to Elche.
- The sides drew 0-0 earlier this season at the Ceramica.
- They hadn’t met in over five years prior to that.
Team News
Gonzalo Verdu, Tete Morente and Antonio Barragan are all suspended. Fidel is a doubt.
Samuel Chukwueze is missing again for Villarreal but Moi Gomez and Gerard Moreno are fit again to play some part.
Predicted Elche Starting Lineup:
Badia – Mojica, Calvo, Gonzalez, Cifu – Guti, Marcone, Victor – Rigoni, Boye, Josan (4-3-3)
Predicted Villarreal Starting Lineup:
Asenjo – Pedraza, Torres, Albiol, Foyth – Parejo, Capoue, Coquelin – Gomez, Alcacer, Trigueros (4-3-3)
Elche vs Villarreal Predictions
Score Prediction: Elche 0-2 Villarreal
It’s not looking good for Elche in truth. Their form has severely declined since a bright start and all analysis, particularly xG and xPTS data, suggests they are by some distance the weakest team in this league. Even with a few players missing, Villarreal should be able to come here and win, particularly with the hosts missing three players to suspension.
Elche vs Villarreal Betting Tips (18+)
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