Updated 29 October 2026.
Villarreal welcome Espanyol to Estadio de la Cerámica on Friday 30 October, with kick-off at 20:00 UK. It is 10th against 18th in La Liga. Villarreal arrive having won 2-1 at Valencia in the league on 24 October and 5-0 at Manacor in the Copa del Rey three days later. Espanyol have lost four of their last five games in all competitions, the latest a 4-3 defeat at Sestao River in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday.
We make Villarreal clear favourites at 64% and project a 2-0 home win.
Villarreal sit 10th on 12 points from 10 games, with three wins, three draws and four defeats, and a goal difference of +1 (15 scored, 14 conceded). They are scoring 1.5 a game, the 8th most in the division, and conceding 1.4, the 8th fewest. They have won five of their last ten games in all competitions and three of their last five, including a 2-1 win at Valencia on 24 October and, the week before, a 0-0 draw with Elche in the league.
In the Champions League they lost 4-3 at Liverpool on 20 October, scoring three, a week after a 3-1 home win over Napoli. They average 6 shots on target a game, the 4th most in La Liga, and win 7.3 corners a game, the most.
Espanyol are 18th on 8 points, with two wins from ten, and have scored 12 and conceded 14. They have lost five of their last six games in all competitions. Their last league game was a 2-1 defeat at Racing on 24 October, before the 4-3 cup loss, and their last league point came in a 1-1 draw at Málaga on 9 October.
Espanyol commit the most fouls in La Liga at 16.3 a game and collect 3.3 cards a game, the 2nd most. They average just 3.4 shots on target and 2.5 corners a game, the fewest corners in the league. Both sides rank 3rd in La Liga for matches in which both teams score, at 70%.
Villarreal possible starting lineup:
Gulácsi; Freeman, Mouriño, Foyth, Veiga; Comesaña, Macià ; Buchanan, Moreno, Akhomach; Pérez
Espanyol possible starting lineup:
Fortuño; El Hilali, Taillandier, Drkusic, Hartman; Expósito, Lozano, Calatrava; Javi Hernández, Zaragoza; Roberto Fernández
Gerard Moreno has had at least one shot in eight straight games, averaging 1.4 a game, and he is 1.02 at Midnite to extend it to nine. Alongside him, Ayoze Pérez is on five in a row at 2.4 shots a game.
Wide of them, Tajon Buchanan has managed two or more shots in four straight and averages 2.8 a game, with 1.30 at Ladbrokes on offer for a fifth. Ilias Akhomach has shot in six in a row at 1.03 at bet365.
For Espanyol, Bryan Zaragoza has had a shot in five straight games and is 1.20 at bet365 to extend it. Roberto Fernández has committed a foul in four straight, averaging 2.3 a game, and is 1.22 at Midnite.
Villarreal's Santiago Mouriño is 2.63 for a shot on target.
We back Villarreal to win, and the bookmakers agree: the home side are 1.44 at Ladbrokes, with the draw at 4.80 and Espanyol 7.00 at Midnite. Both teams to score is 1.70 at bet365, over 2.5 goals is 1.50 and over 1.5 is 1.17.
| Market | Best price | Statz chance |
|---|---|---|
| Villarreal win | 1.44 (Ladbrokes) | 64% |
| Draw | 4.80 (Ladbrokes) | 21% |
| Espanyol win | 7.00 (Midnite) | 15% |
| Both teams to score | 1.70 (bet365) | 53% |
| Over 2.5 goals | 1.50 (bet365) | 58% |
Our model projects 2.1 goals for Villarreal and 0.92 for Espanyol, and we predict a 2-0 home win. That is the single likeliest scoreline at 11%, with 1-1 and 2-1 close behind at 10% each, so a draw is in play. We give Villarreal a 40% chance of a clean sheet and over 2.5 goals a 58% chance. We project 18.5 shots and 7 on target for Villarreal against 10.1 and 3.3 for Espanyol.
Villarreal host Espanyol in La Liga 2026/27 on Friday 30 October 2026, with kick-off at 20:00 UK at Estadio de la Cerámica. Villarreal are 10th and Espanyol 18th, after 10 league games each.
We predict Villarreal 2-0 Espanyol in La Liga 2026/27, the likeliest single scoreline at 11%. A 1-1 draw and a 2-1 home win are close behind at 10% each, and we give Villarreal a 64% chance of winning.
Villarreal are favourites for Villarreal vs Espanyol in La Liga 2026/27, and we give them a 64% chance of winning, against 21% for the draw and 15% for Espanyol. Villarreal are 10th in the table, eight places above 18th-placed Espanyol.
We put both teams to score at 53% for Villarreal vs Espanyol in La Liga 2026/27. Both clubs rank 3rd in La Liga for matches in which both sides score, at 70%, and Villarreal average 1.5 goals a game to Espanyol's 1.2.
Gerard Moreno has had at least one shot in 8 straight games, averaging 1.4, ahead of Villarreal vs Espanyol in La Liga 2026/27. Ayoze Pérez has shot in 5 in a row, averaging 2.4, and Tajon Buchanan has had two or more shots in 4 straight.
Villarreal are 10th in La Liga 2026/27 on 12 points after 10 games, while Espanyol are 18th on 8 points. Villarreal have scored 15 and conceded 14, and Espanyol have scored 12 and conceded 14.
For the 20:00 UK kick-off on 30 October 2026, Villarreal's possible starting lineup is Gulácsi; Freeman, Mouriño, Foyth, Veiga; Comesaña, Macià ; Buchanan, Moreno, Akhomach; Pérez. Espanyol's is Fortuño; El Hilali, Taillandier, Drkusic, Hartman; Expósito, Lozano, Calatrava; Javi Hernández, Zaragoza; Roberto Fernández.