Villarreal will be aiming to record just their third La Liga win of the campaign when they head to the Spanish capital on Saturday afternoon to face Getafe.
The Yellow Submarine have only picked up seven points from their opening seven league games this season, which has left them in 14th position in the table, while Getafe are in 10th spot with eight points.
Match preview
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Getafe have won two, drawn two and lost three of their seven league matches this season to collect eight points, which has left them in 10th position in the table heading into the next set of fixtures.
Jose Bordalas's side only picked up one point from their first two games of the campaign, but they have won two of their last five, overcoming Alaves and Osasuna on home soil, suffering just two defeats.
Getafe will enter this match off the back of a 2-2 draw with Athletic Bilbao; the home side twice led at San Mames, but the capital side answered back on both occasions, including an 83rd-minute effort from Juanmi Latasa to level the scores.
The Deep Blue Ones have finished 15th in each of their last three league seasons, but they were eighth, fifth and eighth between 2018 and 2020, demonstrating their potential.
Getafe have not actually beaten Villarreal in Spain's top flight since January 2019, but the points were shared in a goalless draw when the two sides locked horns for the corresponding clash last term.
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Villarreal finished fifth in La Liga last season, seven points behind the top four, but it would be fair to say that it has been a turbulent start to the 2023-24 campaign.
Quique Setien was sacked as head coach earlier this month due to the team's early-season troubles, with Pacheta placed in charge until the end of the campaign.
Villarreal have won two, drawn one and lost four of their seven La Liga matches this term to collect seven points, which has left them in 14th position in the table.
The Yellow Submarine have only won one of their last six games in all competitions, losing two of their last three, including a 2-0 reverse to Panathinaikos in the Europa League on September 21.
Villarreal drew 1-1 at Rayo Vallecano in the league last weekend but will enter this match off the back of a 2-1 home defeat to table-topping Girona, with the visitors coming from behind to win at Estadio de la Ceramica.
Team News
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Getafe will be without the services of two first-team players through injury, with Luis Milla and Enes Unal remaining on the sidelines for the capital outfit.
Mason Greenwood, who is on loan at the club from Manchester United, made his first start for Bordalas's side against Athletic, and the Englishman should retain his spot in the starting side for this game.
Latasa's goal off the bench against the Lions is likely to earn him a spot in the first XI, with Borja Mayoral potentially dropping out for the contest with Villarreal.
The visitors, meanwhile, will definitely be without the services of Jorge Cuenca and Francis Coquelin through injury.
Villarreal were also missing Gerard Moreno and Denis Suarez against Girona, with the pair remaining major doubts, although Alberto Moreno is back from a suspension.
Head coach Pacheta is expected to resist the temptation to make major changes to the side that started Wednesday's loss, but Ilias Akhomach could be introduced in the final third of the field.
Getafe possible starting lineup:
Soria; Iglesias, Duarte, Alvarez, Rico, Angileri; Greenwood, Arambarri, Maksimovic, Alena; Latasa
Villarreal possible starting lineup:
Jorgensen; Foyth, Albiol, Mandi, A Moreno; Parejo, Capoue, Baena; Pino, Sorloth, Akhomach
We say: Getafe 1-1 Villarreal
Villarreal are a difficult team to back at the moment, with the Yellow Submarine finding it difficult to get going this season. Getafe have also been inconsistent, but they have been strong at home, picking up seven points from an available nine, and we are backing a draw in this contest.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
