The Yellows will try and get their second league win in a row when they face Athletic Club (Sunday, 6:30pm CET)
Villarreal face Athletic Club this Sunday at the Estadio de la Cerámica at 6:30pm CET, with the aim of picking up their third consecutive win in six days, which would also be their second in the league, something they have not achieved to date.
The Yellows go into the Matchday 12 fixture on a good run of form after a heart-racing win over Granada (2-3) and qualifying for the second round of the Copa del Rey after beating Chiclana CF (0-5). As well as clinging on to the improvement in their play, feelings and results, Villarreal will be counting on the support of their fans to get three points that will take them further away from the danger zone and closer to the top of the standings.
Opposing them will be Athletic Club, a team coached by Ernesto Valverde, the Submarine’s head coach during the 2009/10 season, who, after a draw against Valencia at San Mamés last season, are in sixth place in the table -which gives them access to European competition- with 18 points, six more than Pacheta’s side, who, if they beat Los Leones, would be just three points behind them.
Villarreal vs Athletic, a classic match in Spanish football
The Yellows and the Leones have met each other in 52 matches throughout their history, with a total of six matches in the Copa del Rey, and the other 46 in the top flight of Spanish football.
The statistics are in Villarreal’s favour in their home games against the visitors. In total, the Yellow Submarine have 12 wins, eight draws and three defeats in the 23 matches played in Vila-real, in which they have scored a total of 44 goals and conceded half that number, 22.
Referees
Guillermo Cuadra Fernández will be the lead referee for the match, and will be assisted by Francisco Hernández Maeso on VAR.
