The Submarine, unbeaten in their last six games, face one of the surprise packages of the season
The last away game of the season for the Yellows. Villarreal visit Vallecas this Sunday to face Rayo Vallecano, with kick-off at 7pm CEST, at the Estadio de Vallecas in the match corresponding to Gameweek 37. The match will be the Yellows last away game in LaLiga Santander 2022/23.
The Submarine will finish at least fifth in LaLiga Santander after doing their homework against Cádiz (2-0) at the Estadio de la Cerámica and after Real Betis lost to Getafe (0-1). Therefore, with two games left in the competition, the Yellows only have the beautiful and ambitious challenge of catching Real Sociedad to become a UEFA Champions League team.
To do so, the Yellows, five points behind the Basque side, must take all six remaining points – the first three against Rayo Vallecano and the rest against Atlético de Madrid at home – and wait for Real Sociedad to slip up as they take on the Atleti at the Civitas Metropolitano and Sevilla at the Reale Arena.
For the Yellows, the first step to keep alive the dream of the Champions League will be at Vallecas. Last season, Villarreal put on a show at there with a 5-1 win with a brace from Alfonso Pedraza and goals from Paco Alcácer, Juan Foyth and Pau Torres.
Villarreal come into the game on the back of positive results from their last six games. In fact, the record of results between the side from Madrid and the Yellow Submarine is in the Yellow Submarine’s favour. Of the 19 times they have met in the top flight, Villarreal have come out on top on 12 occasions – five of them at the Estadio de Vallecas – with three draws and four defeats.
However, it will be no easy task for Villarreal to take the three points from Vallecas because they will be up against one of the surprise packages of the current season, who defeated the Yellows in the first meeting of the season at La Cerámica and who will now be looking to make it three points from three in order to try to keep their last chances of European qualification alive. Andoni Iraola’s side are in eleventh place with 46 points, four points behind Athletic Club, who occupy the UEFA Europa Conference League place in a battle that also involves Osasuna, Sevilla and Girona.
