The Villarreal vs. Valencia match will be played on Saturday, January 21, at El Madrigal, in Castellon, home of Villarreal. This is matchday 18 in the 2016/17 Spanish La Liga season.

Villarreal are sixth, on 31 points while Valencia are 17th with just 16 points to their name.

STATS

Valencia has lost 6 of their last 7 games.

There have been three or more goals in 8 of Valencia’s last 10 matches.

Villarreal are unbeaten in their 12 home games this season (W9, D3).

5 of Villarreal’s last 6 games has featured -2.5 goals.

Villarreal has lost 3 of the last 13 meetings with Valencia (W7, D3)

HEAD TO HEAD

Valencia has failed to score in the last three La Liga meetings between the two sides (D1, L2) and has won 1 of the last 8 meetings at Villarreal (D2, L5).

This is the first meeting between the two sides this season. In 2015/16, Villarreal did the double, winning 1:0 at home and 2:0 at the Mestalla.

Head to head matches: Villarreal CF - Valencia CF

01.05.2016	LaLi	Valencia CF	Villarreal CF	0:2
31.12.2015	LaLi	Villarreal CF	Valencia CF	1:0

Latest matches: Villarreal CF

14.01.2017	LaLi	Deportivo La Coruna	Villarreal CF	0:0	D
11.01.2017	Copa	Villarreal CF	Real Sociedad	1:1	D
08.01.2017	LaLi	Villarreal CF	FC Barcelona	1:1	D
04.01.2017	Copa	Real Sociedad	Villarreal CF	3:1	L
20.12.2016	Copa	Villarreal CF	CD Toledo Sad	1:1	D

Latest matches: Valencia CF

15.01.2017	LaLi	Valencia CF	Espanyol Barcelona	2:1	W
12.01.2017	Copa	Celta de Vigo	Valencia CF	2:1	L
09.01.2017	LaLi	CA Osasuna	Valencia CF	3:3	D
03.01.2017	Copa	Valencia CF	Celta de Vigo	1:4	L
21.12.2016	Copa	Valencia CF	CD Leganes	2:1	W

VILLARREAL NEWS

After a run of three defeats in four, the Yellow Submarine is steadied with a five-match unbeaten run in La Liga, including a draw with Barcelona. The match was fuelled with controversy as Barca felt they were denied a penalty when Bruno handled in the area.

As it was, the Catalans were grateful once again to Lionel Messi, whose late equaliser salvaged a barely deserved point.

Villarreal has a proud home record this season with only Alaves winning at El Madrigal while Sevilla are the only other club to take a point so far.

Nicola Sansome returns from suspension following his red card against Real Sociedad. It was the second consecutive game in which Villarreal were reduced to ten men, after Jaume Costa was dismissed in the last minute against Barcelona.

After the solid point against Deportivo, Fran Escriba will probably only include Sansome and Costa while keeping faith with the bulk of the team which has restored Villarreal’s form.

VALENCIA NEWS

Valencia lurch from one crisis to another but were grateful for the three points secured by Santi Mina’s winner against Espanyol.

They are flirting dangerously with relegation after a run of eight games without a win (D4, L4) before last weekend’s win.

Los Che are in dire straits and have conceded at least two goals in their last four away games in La Liga. It’s cost them vital points as their last away win in La Liga came in Gijon in October. Since then, it’s been 2 draws and 3 defeats.

Defensively, they are a mess. Only the bottom three has conceded more than their 33 goals this season but the return of Eliaquim Mangala should steady their ship. His partnership with Ezequiel Garay was interrupted by suspension.

Valencia are expected to be unchanged otherwise.

Roderigo Moreno is expected to lead the line once more but scoring just once in his last seven games, needs better service and more confidence in front of goal.

Dani Parejo and Nani have nine assists between them but with just four goals, Moreno is the leading scorer underlining a key element of Valencia’s woes this season.

SUMMING UP!

Can Valencia win? The form book and history says it’s unlikely.

Villarreal has recovered from their pre-Christmas wobble to put themselves back on track and with the Europa League tie against Roma upcoming, they will be looking to get into a winning groove as quickly as possible.

The volatile Valencia support has made their feelings about the players but its Peter Lim, the club’s owner, who is now bearing the brunt of their frustration. Lim’s reign has seen seven managers pass through the club and now he’s viewed as the problem rather than part of the solution.

A good performance against Espanyol hinted at what they were capable of. The question is whether they can continue it in this derby match? The likelihood is, probably not.

Villarreal are too strong, despite their own patchy form before the winter break. Now, in an unbeaten run, the Yellow Submarine will sink Valencia further into the relegation mire.