Preview: Villarreal vs. Real Valladolid - prediction, team news, lineups

Fresh from their impressive triumph at the Santiago Bernabeu, in-form Villarreal welcome Real Valladolid to the Estadio de la Ceramica in La Liga on Saturday.

While the hosts have put together a three-game unbeaten run on home soil, the visitors are seeking to avoid a fifth successive away match without a win.

Match preview

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After securing back-to-back victories without reply against Osasuna and Real Sociedad, Villarreal came out on top in a thrilling 3-2 win away against La Liga holders Real Madrid last weekend.

Goals from Samuel Chukwueze (2) and Jose Luis Morales helped the Yellow Submarine come from behind twice to secure maximum points in the Spanish capital as well as record their first-ever league double over Los Blancos having previously beaten them 2-1 on home soil in January.

Quique Setien's side remain in the mix to secure Champions League qualification as they currently sit fifth in the La Liga table and four points behind fourth-placed Real Sociedad with 10 games remaining.

Villarreal are now unbeaten in each of their last six top-flight matches and will be confident of maintaining their strong run of form as they have won each of their last three encounters against Real Valladolid without conceding a single goal, including a comfortable 3-0 away victory back in August.

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Following a 6-0 thrashing at the Bernabeu at the beginning of this month, Paulo Pezzolano kick-started his reign as Real Valladolid head coach with an enthralling 3-3 draw at home against Mallorca.

The White and Violets were on the cusp of claiming all three points when substitute Monchu netted what appeared to be the match-winner in the 86th minute, but Mallorca's Vedat Muriqi forced both sides to share the spoils with a converted penalty kick in the 94th minute.

Valladolid have now failed to win any of their last four La Liga matches and have subsequently slipped to 17th in the table, hovering just one place and two points above the relegation zone.

Improvements in defence are required for Pezzolano's men if they wish to turn their fortunes around having conceded 19 goals in their last seven league matches, including 12 in their last four away from home.

Valladolid have only won two of their 14 top-flight away games this season, and will need to be on top of their game this weekend if they wish to claim their first win at the Estadio de la Ceramica since September 2018.

Team News

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Villarreal will be without Etienne Capoue (muscle), Gerard Moreno (calf) and Francis Coquelin (knee) due to injury, while Raul Albiol (fitness) is doubtful and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.

Nicolas Jackson is available for selection, though, after serving a one-match suspension last weekend, and the striker will be pushing to start ahead of Giovani Lo Celso, who operated as a false nine against Real Madrid.

After starting on the substitutes' bench last time out, full-backs Kiko Femenia and Alberto Moreno will be hoping to force their way back into the first XI at the expense of Juan Foyth and Alfonso Pedraza, while Aissa Mandi could continue at centre-back alongside Pau Torres if Albiol is not deemed fit to play.

As for Valladolid, Lucas Olaza and Darwin Machis are both ruled out with muscle injuries, while Anuar Tuhami is nursing a knee problem.

Pezzolano is expected to stick with a 4-3-3 formation, with Cyle Larin – who has been involved in six of Valladolid's last 10 La Liga goals (five goals and assist) – set to be joined in attack by Gonzalo Plata and Oscar Plano.

Villarreal possible starting lineup:

Reina; Foyth, Mandi, Torres, Pedraza; Terrats, Parejo, Baena; Chukwueze, Jackson, Pino

Real Valladolid possible starting lineup:

Masip; Fresneda, Fernandez, Sanchez, Rosa; Perez, Hongla, Monchu; Plata, Larin, Plano

We say: Villarreal 2-0 Real Valladolid

Valladolid can ill-afford to drop more points if they wish to avoid being dragged into the relegation zone, but considering the strong run of form that Villarreal possess, we expect the hosts to secure a routine victory on Saturday to boost their top-four hopes.

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