La Liga | Gameweek 24

Feb 15, 2025 at 8pm UK

Estadio de la Ceramica

Villarrea lvs Valencia

Match preview

Villarreal's record of 11 wins, seven draws and five defeats from 23 La Liga games this season has given them 40 points, which puts them in fifth place, four points behind fourth-placed Athletic and five ahead of sixth-placed Rayo Vallecano.

Marcelino's side have been in fine form, taking 10 points from their last four games, beating Mallorca, Real Valladolid and Las Palmas, scoring 11 times in the process, and drawing 1-1 away to Atletico Madrid.

The Yellow Submarine have been prolific in front of goal this season, finding the back of the net 46 times in their 23 games, the third-best attacking record behind Real Madrid (51) and Barcelona (64).

Marcelino's side have conceded 34 times, though, and that will need to improve if they are to have any chance of finishing in the top four for the first time since the 2015-16 campaign.

Villarreal ran out 1-0 winners in the meeting between the two sides last season, but they drew 1-1 at the Mestalla in August and Valencia will go into Saturday's intriguing encounter in good form.

There is no getting away from the fact that it has been a tough campaign for Valencia, with 22 points from 23 games leaving them 18th in the standings, one point behind 17th-placed Leganes after the same number of games.

However, Los Che have won three of their last four league games, all at home, including back-to-back victories over Celta Vigo and Leganes.

Carlos Corberan's side have lost just one of their last five league games, but that was a hammering 7-1 defeat at Barcelona, and their away form is a cause for concern, with no wins on the road in the 2024-25 season.

Valencia have not won on the road in La Liga since April, while Villarreal have lost just two of their 11 home league games this term, underlining the enormity of the task facing the away side.

Los Che have not been relegated from La Liga since 1985-86, so the stakes are high this season and it would be a huge blow for the six-time champions to drop out of the top flight.

Recent Performance

Villarreal La Liga form:WLWDWW

Valencia La Liga form:LDWLWW

Valencia form (all competitions):WWLWLW

Team News

Villarreal will again be without the services of Alfonso Pedraza and Ilias Akhomach due to long-term injuries, while Gerard Moreno are major doubts for the Yellow Submarine this weekend.

Perez has been in fine goalscoring form for Villarreal this season, netting 10 times in 16 appearances in the Spanish top flight, and the Spain international will once again lead the line.

However, there is likely to be a change at the heart of the defence on Saturday, with Logan Costa expected to replace Willy Kambwala.

For Valencia, Thierry Correia is a long-term absentee with a serious knee injury, while Dimitri Foulquier is a doubt with a muscular problem.

However, head coach Corberan has no new fitness concerns and is likely to name the same XI for this game, with Hugo Duro again leading the line and Andre Almeida likely to feature in a wide role.

Fit-again Mouctar Diakhaby is also in contention for a place at the heart of the defence on Saturday, meaning the highly-rated Cristhian Mosquera could start at right-back for the six-time champions.

Possible starting lineup

Villarreal possible starting lineup:

Conde; Femenia, Foyth, Costa, S Cardona; Pino, Comesana, Gueye, Baena; Perez, Barry

Valencia possible starting lineup:

Mamardashvili; Mosquera, Tarrega, Diakhaby, Gaya; Guerra, Barrenechea; Rioja, D Lopez, Almeida; Duro