Villarreal vs Espanyol Prediction

Recent form for both sides

Villarreal's results have been a mixed bag lately. They beat Levante 3-1 in the league, but also lost at home to both Real Betis and Deportivo La Coruna, and were beaten away at Alaves too. There was a bright spot in the Champions League with a 3-2 win away at Borussia Dortmund, and they've drawn with Atletico Madrid and Racing Santander as well. Across their last 20 matches in all competitions, they've won 8, drawn 4 and lost 8, scoring 39 and conceding 31.

Villarreal: 20 completed matches; Espanyol: 20 completed matches.

Villarreal

20 matches

Win

40% 8 / 20

Draw

20% 4 / 20

Loss

40% 8 / 20

Scored

39

Conceded

31

Difference

+8

Espanyol

20 matches

Win

30% 6 / 20

Draw

30% 6 / 20

Loss

40% 8 / 20

Scored

30

Conceded

26

Difference

+4

Espanyol's form tells a similar story of inconsistency. They beat Levante 3-0 at home, but lost at home to Real Madrid and away at Elche, Rayo Vallecano, Osasuna and Real Sociedad. Over their last 20 games they've won 6, drawn 6 and lost 8, scoring 30 and conceding 26. It's a team capable of both good and bad afternoons.

Neither side arrives with real consistency, so recent form alone doesn't point firmly either way.

Comparative Team Statistics: Villarreal vs Espanyol

A head-to-head record that leans one way

Villarreal have won each of the last seven meetings between these two clubs, home and away, going back to 2022. That run includes a 4-1 win in their most recent meeting this year and a 2-0 away win at Espanyol back in November 2025. Espanyol haven't beaten Villarreal in any of their last several attempts, with the two sides' most recent draw coming further back in 2021.

That's a long unbroken run for Villarreal, though recent league form matters more than an old head-to-head record.

Where they sit in the table

Villarreal are ninth in La Liga with eight points from seven games, while Espanyol sit 15th with seven points from the same number of matches. Villarreal have won two, drawn two and lost three; Espanyol have won two, drawn one and lost four. It's a tighter points gap than the table positions might suggest.

Villarreal hold a slight edge on paper, but it isn't a large one this early in the season.

Players to watch

Espanyol's main threat going forward is Roberto Fernández, who has scored six goals in seven appearances, by far the standout scoring record in this fixture. Javier Hernandez has added four assists for the same side. Villarreal's goals have been shared more evenly, with Pathé Gueye leading the way on three and Alberto Moleiro contributing two goals and three assists. Espanyol's O. El Hilali has picked up a red card and a yellow in six appearances, a disciplinary note worth keeping in mind.

Villarreal:

Best scorers:

P. Gueye - 3

Alberto Moleiro - 2

Best assist providers:

Alberto Moleiro - 3

Ayoze Pérez - 2

Espanyol:

Best scorers:

Roberto Fernández - 6

Best assist providers:

Javier Hernandez - 4

Penalty cards:

O. El Hilali x 1 x 1

Roberto Fernández's scoring record makes Espanyol look more dangerous in front of goal than their league position suggests.