0–1 Full time Friday 30 October

Our pick2–0Missed

Espanyol seek a lift as Villarreal’s strong recent form sets the test

Espanyol travel to Villarreal looking to climb the La Liga standings after a difficult run of results. The hosts arrive with the sharper recent form and have won the last five meetings between the sides.

📍 Estadio de la Cerámica

Preview written: Thu 29 Oct 18:03 · Updated after team news: Fri 30 Oct 20:09

All Matchday 11 matches Full head-to-head

Match report

Espanyol secured a 1-0 away win over Villarreal, with the only goal arriving in the 60th minute. Leandro Cabrera scored for Espanyol, assisted by Bryan Zaragoza. Villarreal could not find an equaliser, and there were no red cards.

The statistics showed Villarreal had more possession, 63% to 37%, and more attempts, 14 to five. They also led on expected goals, 0.92 to 0.26, while shots on target were closer at four to three. Espanyol goalkeeper Ángel Fortuño was the top-rated player, with a rating of 8.3. The result differed from the pre-match model’s 2-0 Villarreal prediction, which gave the home side a 61% chance of winning, a draw 23%, and an Espanyol win 16%.

Goals

60'Leandro Cabrera · Bryan Zaragoza · Espanyol

Cards

21'Rafel Bauzà · Espanyol
41'Roger Hinojo · Espanyol
53'Sergi Cardona Bermúdez · Villarreal
56'Santi Comesaña · Villarreal
75'Bryan Zaragoza · Espanyol
90+1'Carlos Macià · Villarreal

Match stats

VillarrealEspanyol

63%Possession37%

14Shots5

4Shots on target3

0.92Expected goals (xG)0.26

7Corners3

15Fouls13

2Saves5

⭐ Top-rated player: Ángel Fortuño (Espanyol) 8.3

Ratings and statistics: API-Football.

Confirmed lineups

Villarreal · 4-4-2

25P. GulácsiG
15S. MouriñoD
6Pau NavarroD
12Renato VeigaD
23Sergi CardonaD
17T. BuchananM
16C. MaciaM
14Santi ComesañaM
10Alberto MoleiroM
7Gerard MorenoF
9G. MikautadzeF

Coach: Iñigo Pérez

Espanyol · 4-2-3-1

1Ángel FortuñoG
23O. El HilaliD
16V. DrkušićD
6L. CabreraD
21Roger HinojoD
26Rafel BauzàM
8Edu ExpósitoM
36Alejandro Santiago VargasM
28Javier HernandezM
15Bryan ZaragozaM
9Roberto FernándezF

Coach: Eder Sarabia

Match facts

Recent form

VillarrealWWLDW

EspanyolLLDLL

Last 5 league games, latest on the right

Goals per game

·	Scored	Conceded
Villarreal	1.5	1.4
Espanyol	1.2	1.4

League position

Pos	Team	P	GD	Pts
10	Villarreal	10	+1	12
18	Espanyol	10	-2	8

Last meetings

2026Villarreal4-1Espanyol
2025Espanyol0-2Villarreal
2025Villarreal1-0Espanyol
2024Espanyol1-2Villarreal
2023Villarreal4-2Espanyol

Absences

Villarreal

OutI. Akhomach · Muscle Injury
OutP. Gueye · Red Card
OutN. Saliba · Injury

Espanyol

OutK. Garcia · Hamstring Injury
OutU. Gonzalez · Coach's decision
OutA. Gorosabel · Coach's decision
OutJofre · Groin Injury
OutC. Riedel · Coach's decision

PreviaXI model

Villarreal61%Draw23%Espanyol16%

Model confidence: Strong

Predicted score: 2-0
Expected goals (model): 1.95 – 0.92
Double chance: 1X · 84%12 77% · X2 39%
Over 2.5 goals: 55%Over 1.5: 79% · Over 3.5: 32%
Both teams score: 52%
Clean sheet: 40% – 14%Villarreal–Espanyol
Half-time result: 1 · 45%X 39% · 2 16%
Half-time / full-time: 1/1 · 39%X/1 19% · X/X 14%
Expected corners: 9.65.9 – 3.7 · Over 9.5: 49%
Expected cards: 5.22.2 – 3.0 · Over 3.5: 74%
Most likely scores: 1-111%
2-011%
1-010%
2-110%
3-07%

Statistical model based on expected goals (xG), results and match statistics from the last two seasons. For information only. How our model works →

Espanyol need points to climb

Villarreal’s 4-1 victory over Espanyol in February was the latest chapter in a one-sided recent run between these La Liga opponents. They meet again on October 30 at the Estadio de la Cerámica, with Espanyol looking to turn their season around and move up the standings.

After 10 matches, Espanyol sit 18th with eight points, while Villarreal are 10th on 12. Espanyol’s recent sequence of two wins, two draws and six defeats leaves them seeking a response; Villarreal have three wins, three draws and four losses. The gap is four points, giving the visitors a clear target as they travel to Villarreal.

Villarreal arrive in better shape

The hosts have taken eight goals and conceded four across their last five matches, while Espanyol have scored four and let in nine over the same span. Villarreal’s last five league results read as three wins, a draw and a defeat; Espanyol’s are two draws and three losses.

Villarreal have scored 15 goals in 10 league games, compared with Espanyol’s 12, and both sides have conceded 14. The visitors’ recent defensive record is the more pressing concern: they have allowed nine goals in five matches.

A recent run dominated by Villarreal

Villarreal have won each of the last five meetings listed, including the 4-1 result in February. Their other victories in that spell were 2-0, 1-0, 2-1 and 4-2, leaving Espanyol with a substantial task if they are to reverse the trend.

Absences on both sides

Villarreal will be without I. Akhomach through a muscle injury, P. Gueye because of suspension following a red card, and N. Saliba through injury.

Espanyol are missing K. Garcia with a hamstring injury and Jofre with a groin injury. U. Gonzalez, A. Gorosabel and C. Riedel are also unavailable through the coach’s decision.

Villarreal’s attacking edge

Villarreal’s recent scoring rate of 1.6 goals per game across their last five offers a platform for the hosts, while Espanyol have averaged 0.8 in that stretch. Espanyol will need more threat in attack if they are to make their push up the table count.

Our prediction

Villarreal’s stronger recent form, higher league position and run of victories in this fixture point towards a home win. Espanyol’s struggles to score consistently make it difficult to see them matching the hosts’ attacking output.

Villarreal 2-0 Espanyol

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