Preview: Villarreal vs. Getafe - prediction, team news, lineups

Europa League semi-finalists Villarreal will switch their attention back to domestic matters this weekend as they prepare to welcome Getafe to Estadio de la Ceramica.

The Yellow Submarine, who beat Arsenal 2-1 in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final on Thursday, are currently seventh in La Liga, while relegation-threatened Getafe occupy 15th position in the table.

Match preview

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Villarreal were two goals up against Arsenal inside the first 29 minutes on Thursday evening, with Manu Trigueros and Raul Albiol on the scoresheet, but Nicolas Pepe's second-half penalty means that the Europa League semi-final is delicately poised ahead of the return fixture in North London next week.

The Yellow Submarine will, of course, be thinking about the second leg at the Emirates Stadium, but they cannot afford to take their eye off the ball in the league.

Unai Emery's side are seemingly locked in a three-way battle with Real Sociedad and Real Betis for fifth position, with Villarreal currently in seventh, four points behind fifth-placed Real Sociedad.

El Submarino Amarillo have actually lost three of their last four in the league, including a 2-1 reverse to Barcelona last weekend, with Antoine Griezmann scoring a double for Ronald Koeman's side.

Villarreal's home form this season has also been inconsistent - winning six, drawing six and losing four of their 16 matches - but they will be taking on a Getafe team with the fifth-worst away record in the 2020-21 La Liga campaign.

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Getafe have finished eighth, fifth and eighth in their last three La Liga seasons, but the capital club are facing the possibility of dropping back into the second tier of Spanish football.

Indeed, a record of eight wins, 10 draws and 15 defeats from 33 matches has left them in 15th position in the table, just four points clear of the relegation zone.

Getafe did manage to pick up a hugely-important 2-0 win over Huesca last weekend, with Enes Unal scoring a double for the visitors, who were in desperate need of a positive result.

Jose Bordalas's side suffered a 5-2 defeat at Barcelona in their last away match on April 22, though, and as mentioned, they have found it difficult on their travels during the 2020-21 campaign.

Getafe's recent record against Villarreal is also disappointing, losing each of the last three matches between the two sides, including a 3-1 defeat in the reverse fixture back in November.

Team News

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Trigueros, who was on the scoresheet against Arsenal on Thursday, is suspended for Villarreal due to the red card that he picked up against Barcelona last weekend.

Pervis Estupinan, Ruben Pena and Paco Alcacer are all injury doubts for the home side, while Vicente Iborra, Etienne Capoue and Juan Foyth will definitely be absent.

Emery is expected to make wholesale changes to the XI that featured against the Gunners, with Sergio Asenjo, Francis Coquelin, Ramiro Funes Mori, Mario Gaspar, Moi Gomez, Alberto Moreno, Carlos Bacca and Yeremi Pino all in line for starts.

As for Getafe, Erick Cabaco and Cucho Hernandez remain on the sidelines through injury, but the visitors are otherwise in good shape heading into the contest.

Unal scored a brace against Huesca last time out and is therefore expected to retain his position in the final third of the field alongside Jaime Mata.

Head coach Bordalas does have plenty of options for change, with Carles Alena, Angel and Takefusa Kubo all available, but alterations are not expected due to the manner of the display against Huesca.

Villarreal possible starting lineup:

Asenjo; Gaspar, Funes Mori, Torres, A Moreno; Parejo, Coquelin, Gomez; Pino, Bacca, G Moreno

Getafe possible starting lineup:

Soria; Suarez, Timor, Dakonam, Olivera; Nyom, Maksimovic, Arambarri, Cucurella; Unal, Mata

We say: Villarreal 2-1 Getafe

Villarreal will certainly have an eye on next week's trip to North London, but they simply cannot afford to drop more points in the league in order to keep pace with Real Sociedad. It should be a tight and cagey affair against a Getafe side with plenty to fight for, but we just fancy the home side to get there in the end.