Villarreal will be bidding to bounce back from a defeat when they resume their La Liga campaign at home to Getafe on Sunday evening.
The Yellow Submarine are currently fourth in the La Liga table, boasting 17 points from their opening nine games of the season, while Getafe are 16th, having picked up eight points from their first nine matches.
Match preview
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Villarreal underperformed in La Liga last season, finishing down in eighth position, but the Yellow Submarine have made a strong start to the 2024-25 campaign, picking up 17 points from nine matches to sit fourth in the table.
Marcelino's side have been the entertainers in Spain's top flight this term, scoring 17 times, which is the third-best attacking record behind Barcelona (28) and Real Madrid (19), but they have also conceded 17, which is the joint-second worst defensive record, so the team have been a good watch in 2024-25.
Villarreal's two defeats this season have come against Barcelona and Real Madrid, with those matches demonstrating the difference in class that exists, but the Yellow Submarine will fancy their chances of challenging the likes of Atletico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao to be the best of the rest this term.
Marcelino's team do not have any European football this season, but their Copa del Rey journey for the 2024-25 campaign will begin at the end of this month away to Poblense.
Villarreal have won two of their last three league matches, but they were beaten 2-0 by Real Madrid at Bernabeu before the international break, with Los Blancos netting a goal in each half.
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Getafe, meanwhile, have picked up four points from their last two matches, beating Alaves at home at the end of September before drawing 1-1 with Osasuna before the international break.
The capital side boast a record of one win, five draws and three defeats from their nine league matches this season, with a total of eight points leaving them in 16th spot, two points outside of the relegation zone.
While Villarreal have both scored and conceded plenty this season, it has been the opposite for Getafe, with Jose Bordalas's team only managing six goals - the second-worst attacking record in the division - but they have conceded just seven, which is the third-best defensive record in the league behind Atletico (five) and Real Madrid (six).
Getafe have proven to be difficult to beat this season despite only managing one win, and they only narrowly lost 1-0 to Barcelona at the end of September, and that performance will have given them confidence.
The Deep Blue Ones have not managed to overcome Villarreal in La Liga since January 2019, but both matches between the two sides during the 2023-24 campaign finished all square.
Team News
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Villarreal will definitely be without the services of Logan Costa, Denis Suarez, Gerard Moreno and Juan Foyth on Sunday, while a further three players are doubts for the Yellow Submarine.
Willy Kambwala and Alfonso Pedraza will both require late fitness tests, while the same can also be said for Villarreal's leading goalscorer this season Ayoze Perez, with the Spaniard recently missing due to a muscular problem.
There is currently a host of speculation surrounding Alex Baena's future, and there should be a place for the Spaniard down the left, while Nicolas Pepe is also in line for another start.
As for Getafe, head coach Bordalas had a full squad available against Osasuna last time out, and that is again expected to be the case this weekend.
The bulk of the side that took to the field for the first whistle of the 1-1 draw are set to continue, although there is likely to be a change in the final third, with Borja Mayoral potentially now ready to start.
Mayoral has made five substitute appearances this season after recovering from a long-term knee problem, and the ex-Real Madrid youngster could now be in line for a spot in the first XI.
Villarreal possible starting lineup:
Conde; Femenia, Albiol, Bailly, S Cardona; Comesana, Parejo, Gueye; Pepe, Barry, Baena
Getafe possible starting lineup:
Soria; Dakonam, Berrocal, Alderete, Rico; Perez, Arambarri, Milla, Uche; Mayoral, Yildirim
We say: Villarreal 2-1 Getafe
This has the potential to be a tricky match for Villarreal, as Getafe have been difficult to beat this season. It would not be a surprise to see the points shared on Sunday, but we just have a feeling that Villarreal will do enough to put an important three points on the board.
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