Villarreal vs Espanyol Predictions & Live Stream - Expect goals in open contest

Tolu Shotade

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Last updated: 26 Apr 2025

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Tolu Shotade 26 Apr 2025

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Villarreal seeking European qualification against Espanyol in La Liga.
Despite recent loss, Villarreal sit 6th and look to Ayoze Perez for goals.
Espanyol have improved form, unbeaten in six matches, aiming for top half.

Villarreal vs Espanyol

Villarreal after aiming to strengthen their position in the race for the European places as they host Espanyol in a Spanish La Liga fixture on Sunday.

The visitors have looked solid lately and are now eyeing a place in the top half of the table. Both teams often look sharp going forward and given the outcome of their recent meetings, they should produce goals here.

Villarreal Form

Villarreal head into Sunday’s clash off the back of a 3-0 defeat at Celta Vigo in their previous La Liga fixture. It was an uncharacteristically poor outing for the visitors as they struggled to find their rhythm and could only muster a single attempt on target throughout the contest.

The good news for Villarreal is that it was only their first defeat in five matches and had no effect on their league position, sitting sixth in the table, two points off the top five. However, they have been unconvincing at home with just two wins in their last nine matches in front of their fans.

That defeat to Celta Vigo highlights Villarreal's defensive vulnerability having failed to keep a clean sheet in six of their last seven matches. However, Marcelino’s team often look to Ayoze Perez at the other end of the pitch having scored 14 goals this season while four of their last five matches have produced over 2.5 goals.

Espanyol Form

Espanyol have eased some of their relegation pressure in the last few weeks and are now up to 13th, seven points above the bottom three. Manolo Gonzalez's team will have ambitions of breaking into the top half, sitting three points off 10th placed Real Sociedad.

The Catalans are showing plenty of improvement lately and are unbeaten in their last six La Liga matches, playing out a 1-1 draw at Valencia in their previous fixture. That result means they are also unbeaten in four of their last five away matches.

Espanyol are often solid going forward and can count a 4-0 victory at Real Valladolid among their recent results. However, they can be vulnerable at the back and are without a clean sheet in seven of their last 10 away matches in the league.

Head to Head

Villarreal are the superior side in this fixture and are unbeaten in six of the last seven matches against Espanyol. The hosts have claimed five wins in that run, including a 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture, with Perez netting a brace.

Verdict

Villarreal v Espanyol

Villarreal and Espanyol have shown plenty of attacking quality lately and should serve up an open contest here. Both teams have scored and produced over 2.5 in three of the last four meetings and a repeat could be on the cards here.

Perez will be looking to improve his tally of 14 goals and having grabbed a brace in the reverse fixture, is expected to find the net here.

Over 2.5

Total Goals

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Ayoze Perez

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Yes

Both Teams To Score

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