Valencia Battles Villarreal in Critical La Liga Showdown

VALENCIA, Spain — Valencia will host Villarreal on Saturday evening as both teams seek to secure crucial points in La Liga. The match kicks off at 8 p.m. UK time and is set to take place at Mestalla Stadium.

Villarreal enters the match in third place, gathering 17 points from their first nine games this season. Meanwhile, Valencia finds itself in 14th place with only nine points, just three above the relegation zone. Valencia’s record this season includes two wins, three draws, and four losses.

Los Che have struggled in recent weeks, managing only two points from their last four matches. Their latest outing ended in a goalless draw against Alaves, following a series of defeats. Valencia’s two league victories have come at home, yet they suffered a surprise defeat to Real Oviedo, losing 2-1 at Mestalla.

Historically, Valencia has had a challenging time against Villarreal, having not beaten them since January 2024. Last season, both encounters between these sides ended in 1-1 draws. Villarreal has lost just one of their last seven matches against Valencia, establishing a formidable record in their rivalry.

On the weekend, Villarreal also looks to break a winless streak of four games. They were held to a 2-2 draw against Real Betis in their previous La Liga fixture and suffered a loss to Manchester City in the Champions League. Villarreal’s current form includes five wins, two draws, and two losses this season, positioning them as serious contenders for a top-four finish.

In terms of team news, Valencia will be missing Mouctar Diakhaby and Largie Ramazani due to injury. However, they are optimistic about the availability of Filip Ugrinic and Dimitri Foulquier, who will undergo late fitness tests. The expected Valencia lineup features Agirrezabala, Correia, and Gaya, with Danjuma and Duro leading the attack.

Villarreal, facing injuries to Logan Costa, Willy Kambwala, and Pau Cabanes, will make several changes after their Champions League outing. Their starting lineup is expected to include Tenas, Mourino, and Parejo, with the influential duo of Mikautadze and Perez partnering in attack.

With Valencia looking to capitalize on their home advantage and Villarreal aiming to rediscover their winning form, this match is poised to be an intense encounter. The outcome will be crucial for both squads as the season progresses.