Is the crisis of the yellow submarine continuing?
Even during the week, Spanish league football says goodbye to the 2022 World Cup break, as matchday 14 is on the agenda from Tuesday to Thursday. At the RCDE stadium, two teams in poor form will face each other and are hungry for a sense of achievement. Between Espanyol Barcelona and Villarreal, predicting the winner is no easy feat.
At first glance, this match is not necessarily to be classified as a crisis duel. The home side are in 16th place and thus above the ominous line, the visitors even in eighth place. However, their recent performances do not meet their own expectations at all. Espanyol have won just two of their 13 league games so far in 2022/23, while Villarreal are still winless under new coach Quique Setien.
Despite three defeats in four Setien games, the visitors are considered relatively clear favourites by the best bookmakers. In the duel between Espanyol Barcelona and Villarreal, betting odds of up to 2.37 are offered on the visitors.
Espanyol Barcelona – Statistics & current form
As a promoted team, Espanyol Barcelona were able to lay the foundations for their successful league stay at home last season. Nine of their ten wins this season came in front of the home crowd, but this season under new coach Diego Martinez, there is not much left of that home strength. The last home match of the year is already the seventh game at the RCDE stadium, so far only the duel against Real Valladolid could be won with 1:0.
Remarkable draw against Rojiblancos
However, the Catalans have only celebrated two victories so far this season. Thanks to six draws, the team is still above the ominous line, but the relegation battle will be a constant companion throughout the season. The last league match, however, showed that the team is willing to take on this fight. The team drew 1-1 with the Rojiblancos away from home. Despite the crisis at Atletico, this point was not expected, because Espanyol Barcelona acted from minute 28 onwards outnumbered. Centre-back Leandro Cabrera was sent off after an emergency foul and will therefore be absent on Wednesday evening.
Cabrera will be the only absentee, however, because otherwise the 16th-placed team can draw on a full complement of players. Ex-Hanoverian Joselu is considered a great hope in the offensive, the veteran has scored seven times so far. In addition, he provided an assist and was thus directly involved in half of all goals. Espanyol Barcelona’s triple effort against Villarreal is a tempting bet for the 32-year-old veteran to score another goal this season.
Predicted line-up of Espanyol Barcelona:
Lecomte – Olivan, Sergio Gomez, Calero, Gil – Souza, Bare – Braithwaite, Darder, Vidal – Joselu
Last matches played by Espanyol Barcelona:
La Liga
06/11/2022 – Atletico Madrid 1 – 1 Espanyol
29/10/2022 – Mallorca 1 – 1 Espanyol
23/10/2022 – Espanyol 2 – 2 Elche
21/10/2022 – Osasuna Pamplona 1 – 0 Espanyol
16/10/2022 – Espanyol 1 – 0 Real Valladolid
Villarreal – Statistics & current form
While Unai Emery celebrated a fabulous debut at Aston Villa against Manchester United (3:1), things are not yet going according to plan for his successor Quique Setien at the yellow submarine. The 64-year-old head coach was previously out of a job for two years and many a Villarreal fan is already hoping that will be the case again this weekend.
One draw in four games
With tactical discipline, a lot of ball security and enormous efficiency, Villarreal played their way to the semi-finals in the Champions League last year. There were no notable departures, yet this season things are by no means going according to plan. Especially in the forward play, the yellow submarine is currently lacking any accuracy.
A small glimmer of hope is the fact that top scorer Gerard Moreno was at least back in the squad last weekend. He has not yet been given any minutes, but this should change at Espanyol and at least a wild card appearance is being considered. His absence leaves a big gap as Villarreal have only scored 14 goals in 13 league games so far. In seven of the 13 league games, the ambitious club remained without a goal of their own.
After only one draw in four games (this one against Hapoel Beer Sheva in the Conference League), Setien has already come under massive criticism. Especially since his philosophy is fundamentally different from that of Unai Emery. High pressing is fashionable, but the resulting gaps in the defence are breaking Villarreal’s back. With Emery, defensive stability always counted first, and the players have not yet internalised this change.
The World Cup break is therefore of great importance for Villarreal. First, however, they have to achieve a halfway positive result. A draw would be another disappointment, so in order to subdue the fans, the tip for the away win at Espanyol Barcelona against Villarreal must be correct.
Predicted Villarreal line-up:
Rulli – Pedraza, Pau Torres, Albiol, Foyth – Parejo, Coquelin – Pino, Baena, Chukwueze – Moreno
Last matches played by Villarreal:
La Liga
07/11/2022 – Villarreal FC 0 – 2 Mallorca
Europa Conference League Grp. C
04/11/2022 – Lech Poznan 3 – 0 FC Villarreal
La Liga
31/10/2022 – Athletic Bilbao 1 – 0 FC Villarreal
Europa Conference League Grp. C
27/10/2022 – Villarreal FC 2 – 2 Hapoel Beer Sheva
La Liga
23/10/2022 – FC Villarreal 2 – 1 Almeria
Espanyol Barcelona – Villarreal Direct comparison / H2H record
It is fair to say that Espanyol Barcelona can call the yellow submarine a fearful opponent. So far, the two teams have faced each other 42 times in the Spanish football top flight, and only seven times have the Catalans from Barcelona been able to celebrate a victory against Villarreal. The home advantage at least offers some hope, as the home side have only lost five times at the RCDE Stadium (four wins and a full twelve draws).
Espanyol Barcelona – Villarreal tip
In the LaLiga match between Espanyol Barcelona and Villarreal, our value tip is to predict a draw. There are more than enough arguments for this. The home side have shared the points six times this season, and more than 50 per cent of the games between the two teams in Barcelona have ended in a draw. The visitors undoubtedly have more individual quality, but have rarely been able to bring it to the pitch. Quique Setien is still winless as coach of the yellow submarine. The high odds for the draw certainly have appeal.
If you want to take less risk with your bet, you should consider the odds for the clash between Espanyol Barcelona and Villarreal for the bet “Both teams meet? No” should be considered. Villarreal concede very few goals and their efficiency in the front third of the pitch leaves a lot to be desired. Only in two league games (out of 13!) have Villarreal seen goals on both sides this season. A 1.95 is surprisingly high and is recommended with five units bet.
