Villarreal vs Elche Prediction & Betting Tips

A mixed run for both sides

Neither club's recent schedule has been a clean run of league games. Villarreal's last twenty fixtures span the league, a Champions League trip and pre-season friendlies, and across that spread they've won eight, drawn four and lost eight, scoring 39 and conceding 31.

Villarreal: 20 completed matches; Elche: 20 completed matches.

Villarreal

20 matches

Win

40% 8 / 20

Draw

20% 4 / 20

Loss

40% 8 / 20

Scored

39

Conceded

31

Difference

+8

Elche

20 matches

Win

35% 7 / 20

Draw

35% 7 / 20

Loss

30% 6 / 20

Scored

30

Conceded

33

Difference

-3

Elche's equivalent sample includes several summer friendlies alongside their league games. Over those twenty matches they've won seven, drawn seven and lost six, with 30 scored and 33 conceded. It points to two teams capable of scoring but not always tight at the back.

Both sides have shown they can put goals in, but their defensive numbers over that stretch aren't reassuring either.

Comparative Team Statistics: Villarreal vs Elche

Villarreal have had the upper hand lately

The most recent meetings have gone Villarreal's way. They won 3-1 away at Elche back in January and followed it up with a 2-1 home win in March.

Looking further back across the recorded meetings between these two, Villarreal have won six, drawn four and lost two. Specifically at their own ground, they've been unbeaten in this set of fixtures, with four wins and two draws.

History leans towards Villarreal, particularly on home soil, though older results carry less weight than this season's form.

A clear gap in the table

Villarreal sit 9th with eight points from seven games, built on two wins, two draws and three losses, scoring 13 and conceding 12.

Elche are down in 18th with five points from the same number of matches, having won just once, drawn twice and lost four times. Their goal difference stands out, with 11 scored but 17 conceded.

Elche's defensive record is the more concerning number here, conceding at nearly two and a half goals a game on average this season.

Attacking threats to watch

Elche's main outlet has been Fer Niño, who has scored five goals in seven appearances despite his side's struggles further down the pitch. He's clearly the one they'll look to for goals here.

Villarreal:

Best scorers:

P. Gueye - 3

Alberto Moleiro - 2

Best assist providers:

Alberto Moleiro - 3

Ayoze Pérez - 2

Elche:

Best scorers:

Fer Niño - 5

Best assist providers:

Tete Morente - 3

Penalty cards:

F. Redondo x 1 x 1

For Villarreal, P. Gueye leads the scoring with three in seven, while Alberto Moleiro has chipped in with two goals and three assists, showing he's involved in most of their attacking moves. Elche's F. Redondo has picked up a red card among his bookings across his last five matches, which is worth keeping an eye on, though it doesn't confirm he'll be unavailable for this particular game.

How this one could play out

Villarreal go into this with the better league position, a stronger recent head-to-head record and home advantage, but their own defence has leaked 12 goals in seven games, so this isn't a watertight side.

Elche's threat is real through Fer Niño, but their defensive record away from home this season, allowing 17 goals in seven matches, suggests they could be exposed again if Villarreal's attack finds its rhythm.