The Villarreal face a tough away test against one of LALIGA EA Sports’ breakout teams (Saturday, 6:30 pm)
Villarreal CF kick off 2026 with a demanding league fixture. The Groguets travel to the south of the region this Saturday, at 6:30 pm, to face Elche CF, one of the revelation teams of the season on home soil.
Eder Sarabia’s Elche CF will be the Yellow Submarine’s first opponent in this new and exciting 2026. The Franjiverdes will put to the test the strong form shown by Marcelino García Toral’s side in LALIGA EA Sports, as Villarreal look to claim victory in a venue of maximum difficulty, where no team has managed to win this season.
A major challenge to start the year. Even so, Marcelino’s men take on the challenge as one of the best away teams in LALIGA. Away from La Cerámica, the Submarine have won four of their last five matches.
The Martínez Valero does not bring back good memories for Villarreal
There are grounds that, for one reason or another, simply don’t suit you in football. For Villarreal, that ground is the Martínez Valero. The Submarine have visited Elche a total of 13 times throughout their history and have only managed two victories. In the top flight, Villarreal have played there just five times. Only in the 2013/14 season, with Marcelino on the yellow bench, did the Groguets emerge victorious. They did so thanks to a last-gasp goal from Ike Uche (89’), which tipped a closely fought encounter in Villarreal’s favour.
The most recent meeting between the two sides at the Martínez Valero came in the 2022/23 season. A hat-trick from Pere Milla earned the home side a 3-1 victory. Villarreal’s goal, at that time under the guidance of Quique Setién, was scored by Gerard Moreno. Back then, Elche, managed by Pablo Machín, were bottom of the table and eventually suffered relegation.
Guaranteed entertainment in Elche
Beyond which side the result favours, the match against Elche promises to deliver great entertainment thanks to the attractive style of both teams. Under Eder Sarabia’s philosophy, the Elche side opt for possession-based, brave football with high defensive lines, while Marcelino’s Villarreal are dangerous in space and ruthless in transition.
The clash between Franjiverdes and Groguets is sure to be one of the standout fixtures of Matchday 18 in LALIGA EA Sports.
