Villarreal vs Espanyol
Match details. LaLiga, Regular Season - 11. Kick-off is Fri 30 Oct, 21:00 Lagos time. It is played at Estadio de la Cerámica, Villarreal. The referee is Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez.
What's at stake. Villarreal are 10th on 12 points after 10 games, level on points with Celta Vigo, 1 point clear of Deportivo La Coruna. A win would take them above Celta Vigo. Espanyol are 18th on 8 points after 10 games, 1 point behind Getafe, 2 points clear of Valencia. A win would take them above Getafe.
Team news. Villarreal are without I. Akhomach (muscle injury), P. Gueye (red card), N. Saliba (injury), I. Akhomach (muscle injury), P. Gueye (red card), N. Saliba (injury). Espanyol are without K. Garcia (hamstring injury), U. Gonzalez (coach's decision), A. Gorosabel (coach's decision), Jofre (groin injury), C. Riedel (coach's decision), K. Garcia (hamstring injury).
Form. Villarreal have won three, drawn three and lost four of their last ten, 1.2 points a game. Their last five, newest first: W D L W W. In this competition Villarreal have gone W D L W W L. Espanyol have won two, drawn two and lost six of their last ten, 0.8 points a game. Their last five, newest first: L L D L L. In this competition Espanyol have gone L L D L L W.
The numbers. Villarreal score 1.5 and concede 1.4 a game over their last ten, with one clean sheet and three games without a goal. Villarreal average 17.6 shots (5.8 on target), 7.5 corners and 1.9 cards a game, with 62% of the ball. Espanyol score 1.2 and concede 1.4 a game in their last five away, with one clean sheet. Espanyol average 12.6 shots (3.1 on target), 3.1 corners and 3.1 cards a game, with 46% of the ball.
Head to head. In the last ten meetings Villarreal have won eight, drawn one and lost one. Five of the ten went over 2.5 goals and both teams scored in five. In the last four, Villarreal won four. The last time they met, on 9 Feb 2026, it finished Villarreal 4-1 Espanyol: Villarreal had 10 shots to 9, 49% of the ball, six yellow cards.
The case against. Espanyol's record still gives them 22% to win.
The read. Villarreal to win. An open game. Their goals for and against make Villarreal the likelier winners; Villarreal are the stronger side on form and the table; both teams' records favour Villarreal; the meetings favour Villarreal. Their goals for and against point to an open game. Their records put over 2.5 goals at 61%.
The bets. Best bet: Villarreal 1UP at 1.23, 72% on the records (Villarreal scored first 2 of last 5, led in 4; led in 7 of 10). The safer one: Over 1.5 Goals at 1.13 (76%). Backup: Over 7.5 Corners at 1.25. It often rescues the bet, but it is no guarantee. Leave: Over 4.5 cards (the signs point different ways); Under 4.5 Goals (no unders on an open read); Under 5.5 Goals (no unders on an open read). Predicted score: Villarreal 2-1 Espanyol (10% chance).
Every score's chance from both teams' checked games, never cut or rescaled. The lit square is the likeliest score that fits the read (the call and an open game).