Jornada 11, Fri 30 Oct, 21:00 CET: Villarreal welcome Espanyol to Estadio de la Cerámica. Villarreal are 10th on 12 points from 10 games (form WWLDW); Espanyol are 18th on 8 from 10 (form LLDLL). Figures refreshed 2026-10-26.
Villarreal: the story so far
Villarreal have scored 15 and conceded 14 in 10 league games (3W 3D 4L, goal difference +1). Last time out it was W 2–1 at Valencia. At home they have 4 points from 4 games. Their last league XI lined up in a 4-4-2; next up is the visit of Espanyol.
Villarreal Predicted Starting XI & Lineup · 4-4-2
Official lineups confirmed 1 hour before kick-off.
Espanyol: the story so far
Espanyol have scored 12 and conceded 14 in 10 league games (2W 2D 6L, goal difference -2). Last time out it was L 1–2 at Racing Santander. Away from home they have 4 points from 5 games. Their last league XI lined up in a 4-2-3-1; next up is a trip to face Villarreal.
Facts to know
- Last three for Villarreal, oldest first: L 0–1 at Real Madrid, D 0–0 v Elche, W 2–1 at Valencia.
- Last three for Espanyol, oldest first: D 1–1 at Málaga, L 0–1 v Atlético Madrid, L 1–2 at Racing Santander.
- Table before this round: Villarreal 10th (12 pts, GD +1), Espanyol 18th (8 pts, GD -2).
Key battle
Villarreal (4-4-2 last time out) against Espanyol (4-2-3-1) comes down to which defence gives way first: Villarreal have conceded 14 in 10, Espanyol 14 in 10. Goals scored point the other way: 15 for Villarreal, 12 for Espanyol.
Names to know
- Predicted lineups below are each club's actual starting XI from their last league match (Villarreal: W 2–1 at Valencia, Espanyol: L 1–2 at Racing Santander). Official lineups appear about an hour before kick-off.
- Villarreal are 10th and Espanyol 18th, so use the table gap as a guide to who is most likely to hold clean-sheet and goalscorer value.
- Villarreal scorers in their last league game: Alex Freeman (69'), Georges Mikautadze (90'+6').
- Espanyol scorers in their last league game: Edu Expósito (62').
- For Villarreal v Espanyol, open Predictor for the scoreline or La Liga Team Draft for the jornada.
Score prediction
Our model, built on 2026/27 goals scored and conceded, gives Villarreal a 48% win chance, a draw 25% and Espanyol 27%, with 1–1 the most likely single scoreline. Expected goals: 1.6 for Villarreal, 1.1 for Espanyol. Villarreal are the lean on the numbers, with the games played so far it is a guide, not a certainty.