Valencia vs Villarreal 28/01/19

28 January 2019

Saturday’s La Liga action concludes with a derby clash between two out-of-form sides, as Valencia welcome Villarreal to the Estadio de Mestalla.

The ‘kings of stalemates’ (11) now tackle a team that has already featured in nine winless ties this campaign. Looking at Villarreal’s form and overall season’s performance, Valencia have a perfect chance to bring a 3-game losing home run against the Yellow Submarine. Far more convincing when playing at home, the Bats are unbeaten in their last eight competitive outings in front of the local crowd, securing six wins in the process (W6, D2). The Oranges’ average of 1.1 goals scored per match at home is among La Liga lowest, with Marcelino Garcia Toral’s men scoring one goal or less in eight of their ten LL home meetings. However, the Valencia forwards seem to have stepped up their game lately, scoring over 1.5 goals per match in three of the previous four home clashes across all competitions. What’s more, five of Valencia’s six competitive home wins have seen them score a minimum of two goals per match.

Rooted deep in the relegation zone, the visitors are winless in their last seven La Liga races (D4, L3) and come into this meeting three points adrift of safe territory. Only Huesca (2) have clinched fewer wins than Villarreal (3) this term, but two of those three wins the Yellow Submarine achieved away from home. However, Luis Garcia’s players have failed to wrap up all three points on their last 11 road trips across all competitions (D7, L4). Before playing out a goalless draw with Eibar, all of Villarreal’s previous eight LL road clashes have produced over 1.5 goals with five of them ending with a minimum of three goals. An unreliable defense that has already conceded over 1.5 goals per match on five road trips this campaign is something that should worry Luis Garcia ahead of this encounter.