La Liga | Gameweek 20

Jan 20, 2025 at 8pm UK

Estadio de la Ceramica

Villarreal vs Mallorca

Match preview

Villarreal have won eight, drawn six and lost five of their 19 La Liga games this term, picking up 30 points to sit fifth in the table, six points behind fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao.

Marcelino's side are out of the Copa del Rey and have no European football to play for this season, so their sole focus is on the league, which could give them an advantage over Athletic in the race for fourth place.

The Yellow Submarine ended 2024 with a 5-2 win over Leganes, but last time out they were beaten 1-0 by Real Sociedad, their fifth defeat in the Spanish top flight in 2024-25.

Villarreal have been excellent to watch this season, scoring 34 goals and conceding 31, with their defensive record actually the third worst in the league, which is remarkable given their position in the table.

Marcelino's side have won just three of their nine league games at home this term, and they will welcome a Mallorca side who have won five of their nine La Liga games away from home in 2024-25.

Mallorca are also enjoying an impressive season, with nine wins, three draws and seven defeats from 19 games, to sit sixth in the table with 30 points.

Los Piratas have finished 16th and 15th in two of the last three seasons, but they are on course for a top-half finish this term and must be considered serious contenders for a place in Spain's top flight.

Jagoba Arrasate's side have not played in La Liga since a 1-0 win over Getafe on 21 December, with their last two games taking place in the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup respectively.

Mallorca suffered a shock Copa del Rey exit when they were thrashed 3-0 by Pontevedra, before losing 3-0 to Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the Spanish Super Cup.

Los Bermellones are winless in their last three league meetings with Villarreal, although they did share the points in a 1-1 draw in the 2024-25 campaign.

Recent Performance

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Mallorca La Liga form:WWLLWW

Mallorca form (all competitions):LLWWLL

Team News

Villarreal welcome back Yeremy Pino from suspension, but Diego Conde, Alfonso Pedraza, Ramon Terrats, Nicolas Pepe, Ayoze Perez and Ilias Akhomach could all miss out again.

Perez has scored 11 times in 14 appearances for Villarreal this season, including eight goals in La Liga, but has missed the last two games with a muscle problem.

Pino could play alongside Thierno Barry in the final third of the field, but Raul Albiol should return to the heart of the defence, with Willy Kambwala likely to drop to the bench.

For Mallorca, Manu Morlanes and Vedat Muriqi will be back in the squad after recent suspensions in La Liga, but Antonio Raillo is out with a muscle problem.

Muriqi and Cyle Larin are expected to start up front for the away side, while Sergi Darder and Robert Navarro are likely to start in wide positions, with Dani Rodriguez in reserve.

Samu Costa returned to action against Real Madrid last time out following a recent injury problem and could come off the bench again, while Omar Mascarell and the returning Morlanes could start in central midfield.

Possible starting lineup

Villarreal possible starting lineup:

Luiz Junior; Femenia, Foyth, Albiol, S Cardona; Suarez, Comesana, Parejo, Baena; Pino, Barry

Mallorca possible starting lineup:

Greif; Maffeo, Valjent, Copete, Mojica; Navarro, Morlanes, Mascarell, Darder; Larin, Muriqi