Villarreal will be bidding to return to winning ways in La Liga when they head to Real Valladolid on Saturday afternoon.
The Yellow Submarine, who are fourth in the La Liga table, will enter the contest off the back of a 1-1 draw with Getafe, while 18th-placed Real Valladolid recorded a 3-2 victory over Alaves last time out.
Match preview
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Real Valladolid managed to claim just their second La Liga win of the season on October 18, recording a 3-2 victory over Alaves, with the result moving them into 18th position in the table, now on eight points from their first 10 games.
The White and Violets finished second in the Segunda Division last season to secure a return to this level, and there have been some positive signs early in the campaign, but their defensive record is a big concern.
Indeed, Paulo Pezzolano's side have conceded 21 times in their 10 matches, which is the worst defensive record in the division, and that will need to improve if they are to remain in the top flight this term.
Real Valladolid have lost their last two home league games against Mallorca and Rayo Vallecano, and they will be coming up against a Villarreal outfit that have three wins, one draw and one loss to show from their five away La Liga fixtures in 2024-25.
![Villarreal manager Marcelino Garcia Toral during the pre-season friendly match at the City Ground, Nottingham on August 2, 2024 [on August 5, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/32/marcelino-garcia-toral.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Villarreal manager Marcelino Garcia Toral during the pre-season friendly match at the City Ground, Nottingham on August 2, 2024 [on August 5, 2024]")
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Villarreal actually lost 2-1 at home to Real Valladolid when the two sides last locked horns in April 2023, but the Yellow Submarine have been triumphant in four of their last six meetings in the top flight of Spanish football.
Marcelino's side finished eighth in La Liga last season, which will go down as a disappointment, and there is no question that their target during the 2024-25 campaign will be to secure a return to Europe for next term.
Villarreal have only picked up one point from their last two matches against Real Madrid and Getafe, but a successful start to the season has left them in fourth position in the table on 18 points from 10 matches.
The Yellow Submarine are only two points behind third-placed Atletico Madrid, but there is already a big gap to the top two, with Villarreal six points from second-placed Real Madrid and nine from the leaders Barcelona.
Marcelino's team have been the entertainers in La Liga this season, scoring 18 times and also conceding 18, with Villarreal actually having the joint-third worst defensive record in the league at this stage of proceedings.
Team News
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Real Valladolid will again definitely be without the services of Cesar de la Hoz due to a back problem, while Victor Meseguer and Cenk Ozkacar are also expected to be unavailable for selection this weekend.
Head coach Pezzolano could name close to the same side that took to the field for the first whistle against Alaves last time out, with a 4-4-2 formation likely to include both Selim Amallah and Mamadou Sylla in the final third of the field.
There will also be a return to the squad for Lucas Rosa, who was suspended against Alaves last time out.
As for Villarreal, a lengthy injury list includes Eric Bailly, Logan Costa, Denis Suarez and Juan Foyth, with all four players set to be missing, but the Yellow Submarine also have doubts over a number of others.
Indeed, Ayoze Perez, who is the team's leading goalscorer this season with six, remains a doubt due to a muscular problem, while Willy Kambwala, Gerard Moreno and Alfonso Pedraza could also be absent.
Pau Navarro is likely to be the player to benefit from Bailly's absence, with the 19-year-old in line for a starting role in the middle of the defence, but Dani Parejo should retain his position in midfield.
Real Valladolid possible starting lineup:
Hein; Perez, Sanchez, Torres, Rosa; Moro, Comert, Martin, Tuhami; Amallah, Sylla
Villarreal possible starting lineup:
Conde; Femenia, Albiol, Navarro, S Cardona; Comesana, Parejo; Akhomach, Gueye, Baena; Barry
We say: Real Valladolid 1-2 Villarreal
Villarreal were 3-0 winners on their last visit to Real Valladolid, and while we are not expecting the result to be as comprehensive on Saturday, the Yellow Submarine should have enough to return to winning ways in Spain's top flight.
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