Villarreal will be bidding to return to winning ways in La Liga when they resume their top-flight campaign at home to Osasuna on Sunday afternoon.
An underwhelming campaign to date has left the Yellow Submarine down in 14th position in the table, while Osasuna have also struggled for consistency this term, occupying 12th spot.
Match preview
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Villarreal are already on their third manager of the 2023-24 campaign, with Quique Setien and Pacheta both dismissed due to poor form; Marcelino returned to the club earlier this month, penning a three-year contract with the team that he previously managed between 2013 and 2016.
The 58-year-old has since been in charge of Valencia, Athletic Bilbao and Marseille, but he is back in familiar surroundings and already has a win under his belt, leading Villarreal to a 2-1 success over Zamora in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday to progress to the third round of the competition.
The Yellow Submarine have found it difficult in the league this season, though, boasting a record of three wins, three draws and seven defeats from 13 matches, which has left them in 14th spot in the table on 12 points.
Villarreal have lost their last two in Spain's top flight, including a 3-1 reverse at Atletico Madrid last time out, with their last success providing to be a 3-2 win at Granada on October 30.
Marcelino will also be bidding to lead the team into the knockout round of the Europa League, and they are currently second in Group F on six points, with a game in hand on both leaders Rennes and Maccabi Haifa at the bottom of the section.
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Osasuna enjoyed an impressive 2022-23 campaign, finishing seventh in Spain's top flight, in addition to reaching the final of the Copa del Rey, but they failed to qualify for the group stage of the Europa Conference League, losing to Club Brugge in the playoffs back in August.
Jagoba Arrasate's side have been underwhelming in the league, meanwhile, picking up 14 points from their opening 13 matches, which is only enough for 12th spot in the table.
Los Rojillos have only managed to win one of their last five in Spain's top flight, which was a 2-0 success over Granada towards the end of last month. Since then, they have lost to both Real Betis and Girona, in addition to drawing 1-1 with Las Palmas last time out.
Osasuna have only managed 15 goals in 13 league matches this season, while they have conceded 21, with only four teams shipping more in La Liga at this stage of the campaign.
As a result, there is plenty for Arrasate to work on in the coming weeks, and the 45-year-old seemingly has enough credit in the bank in terms of keeping his job due to his work since arriving as head coach in 2018.
Team News
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Villarreal will be without the services of Matteo Gabbia, Aissa Mandi, Yeremy Pino, Alexander Sorloth, Denis Suarez and Francis Coquelin for this match due to injury problems.
Head coach Marcelino named a relatively strong XI in the Copa del Rey last time out, but there will be recalls for the likes of Juan Foyth, Alex Baena, Etienne Capoue, Gerard Moreno and Filip Jorgensen on Sunday.
Jose Luis Morales netted a brace in the team's last match, which should be enough to keep him in the side, as fellow attackers Sorloth and Pino will be missing for the league contest.
As for Osasuna, Darko Brasanac remains on the sidelines with a muscular problem, while Enrique Barja and Nacho Vidal are also major doubts for the contest.
The team is expected to be similar to the one that took to the field for the first whistle against Las Palmas last time out, although Jon Moncayola is likely to be introduced in the middle of midfield.
Ante Budimir has been in strong goalscoring form in the league this season, finding the back of the net on seven occasions, and he will continue in the final third of the field for Osasuna on Sunday.
Villarreal possible starting lineup:
Jorgensen; Foyth, Albiol, Cuenca, Pedraza; Parejo, Capoue, Baena; Akhomach, G Moreno, Morales
Osasuna possible starting lineup:
Herrera; Areso, Catena, D Garcia, Mojica; Torro, Moncayola; Pena, Oroz, Avila; Budimir
We say: Villarreal 2-1 Osasuna
This is a really interesting match, as both sides will feel that they should be higher up the table. All eyes will be on Marcelino in his first league game since returning as Villarreal boss, and we are expecting the Yellow Submarine to edge a close and competitive contest this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
