villarreal vs espanyol predictions
Villarreal are fighting with Real Betis for fifth place - Photo by IconSport
🔥 Our Hot tip

Espanyol or draw

Espanyol have only lost two of their 14 league games in 2025.

Espanyol head to the Ceramica in the only league game in the Spanish top flight this weekend. Our Villarreal vs Espanyol prediction and La Liga betting tips consider whether the improving visitors can spring a surprise.

Villarreal vs Espanyol prediction: Fernandez to strike in draw

Key stats

  • Our Villarreal vs Espanyol betting tips take into account that the visitors have taken seven points from their last three away games, conceding only once.
  • Villarreal have only won 33% of their home league fixtures this term.
  • Only 42% of their points have come at the Ceramica, with Marcelino’s side often thriving on the road.

Correct score prediction: Villarreal 1-1 Espanyol

Espanyol are a vastly improved side, following some smart January business, with Roberto Fernandez and Urko Gonzalez de Zarate both slotting into the team and pushing them to a higher level.

They’ve every chance of getting something from this fixture, particularly given Villarreal have a major doubt over key man Alex Baena.

Pre-game odds and win probability: Bookies backing the Yellow Submarine

  • HOME: 4/9 (1.44) – 69.2%
  • DRAW: 18/5 (4.60) – 21.7%
  • AWAY: 11/2 (6.50) – 15.4%

*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change

The hosts are the favourites according to the Villarreal vs Espanyol odds, with an implied probability of 69.2% that they win this match.

They head into the game after a 3-0 defeat at Celta Vigo, with Eric Bailly’s early red card not helping them at all in midweek.

As for Espanyol, their revival continued on Tuesday, with Javi Puado’s goal earning them a point at Valencia in a 1-1 draw.

For more from the upcoming matches in Europe, today’s free betting tips look at some of the best picks.

Most recent H2Hs: Villarreal chasing fifth win on the spin

Our Villarreal vs Espanyol prediction suggests this match could buck the recent trend which has seen the Yellow Submarine win all of the last four meetings.

Espanyol have avoided defeat on four of their last six trips to the Ceramica though, with both teams scoring in five of those games.

Spain La Liga 03/03/25

Villarreal

Villarreal

0
Espanyol

Espanyol

0

Spain La Liga 26/09/24

Espanyol

Espanyol

1
Villarreal

Villarreal

2

Spain La Liga 27/04/23

Villarreal

Villarreal

4
Espanyol

Espanyol

2

Spain La Liga 09/11/22

Espanyol

Espanyol

0
Villarreal

Villarreal

1

Spain La Liga 27/02/22

Villarreal

Villarreal

5
Espanyol

Espanyol

1

Villarreal preview: Marcelino to mix things up

We should see a number of changes from Marcelino, with Ayoze Perez sure to return up top following a midweek rest. Bailly is suspended, while Baena, Gerard Moreno and Raul Albiol are rated doubtful.

Predicted Lineup: Junior (GK), Cardona, Costa, Foyth, Femenia, D. Suarez, Parejo, Gueye, Pino, Pepe & A. Perez

Spain La Liga 10/05/25

W

Girona

Girona

0

Villarreal

Villarreal

1

Spain La Liga 03/05/25

W

Osasuna

Osasuna

2

Villarreal

Villarreal

4

Spain La Liga 27/04/25

W

Espanyol

Espanyol

0

Villarreal

Villarreal

1

Spain La Liga 23/04/25

L

Celta Vigo

Celta Vigo

3

Villarreal

Villarreal

0

Spain La Liga 20/04/25

D

Real Sociedad

Real Sociedad

2

Villarreal

Villarreal

2

Espanyol preview: Manolo favouring continuity

With a settled lineup, Espanyol are thriving and few changes are expected here. They have injury doubts over squad players Brian Olivan, Jose Gragera and Sergi Gomez.

Predicted Lineup: J. Garcia (GK), Romero, Cabrera, Kumbulla, El Hilali, Gonzalez de Zarate, Lozano, Exposito, Puado, R. Fernandez & J. Carreras

Spain La Liga 11/05/25

L

Leganes

Leganes

3

Espanyol

Espanyol

2

Spain La Liga 04/05/25

L

Real Betis

Real Betis

2

Espanyol

Espanyol

1

Spain La Liga 27/04/25

L

Villarreal

Villarreal

1

Espanyol

Espanyol

0

Spain La Liga 22/04/25

D

Valencia

Valencia

1

Espanyol

Espanyol

1

Spain La Liga 18/04/25

W

Getafe

Getafe

0

Espanyol

Espanyol

1

la liga prediction

Mark is a freelance football writer based in Madrid. He regularly attends and covers La Liga matches around Spain, whilst also following football across Europe.