Villarreal CF will play a final at the Estadio de la Cerámica to try and regain fifth place
After two controversial games in which Villarreal have only managed to pick up one point, the Submarine need to get back to their best at the Estadio de la Cerámica on Sunday 27th at 4:15pm CEST against RCD Espanyol, a rearranged match corresponding to Matchday 26.
After the defeat at Balaídos (3-0), which felt like a cold shower, Villarreal will face the postponed match against the Catalan team as if it were a final. They need a win to return to fifth place, which this year will allow them to compete in Europe’s top competition.
The Yellows will have their fans cheering them on in a match where three points are essential. Marcelino’s team have the Champions League in their sights and after two games in which they have not been able to get the three points, they will be looking to return to winning ways in front of their fans.
Two teams who have everything at stake
Villarreal have won the last four games against the Catalan team and this time they will be looking for the same result. Espanyol, for their part, will be looking to maintain a magnificent five-game unbeaten run with the aim of securing mathematical survival.
RCD Espanyol are one of the ten teams that have conceded the fewest goals in LALIGA and it will be a challenge for Marcelino’s side to score against Joan García. For their part, the Submarine are the third highest-scoring team in the competition behind Barcelona and Real Madrid. In the first leg at Cornellà-El Prat the Submarine managed to win (1-2) with two goals from Ayoze Pérez, who will also be looking to continue scoring goals to overtake Oihan Sancet as the top Spanish scorer in LALIGA, who is just one goal ahead. The Submarine will have to watch out for Javi Puado who has scored 11 goals this season.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
