Villarreal will face Athletic Club after a revitalising win (Sunday, 9pm CEST)
The Submarine host Athletic Club at the Estadio de la Cerámica this Sunday at 9pm CET on Matchday 30 of the 2024/25 LALIGA EA Sports season. After winning (1-2) against Getafe in a great game for the groguets. Villarreal CF will be looking to close the gap on a team that comes from dropping two points against CA Osasuna with a goalless draw.
Marcelino’s side face a very important game in front of their home fans against the team with the second lowest number of goals conceded in LALIGA EA Sports. After the return of Gerard Moreno and goals from Ayoze Pérez and Thierno Barry, the Yellows’ will have the challenge of breaking Ernesto Valverde’s team’s impenetrable goal.
The next two matches are decisive in a context in which Villarreal CF, Athletic Club and Real Betis will be competing for fourth and fifth place in the UEFA Champions League, with the fifth-placed team still to decide whether they will also qualify for the European competition.
A battle to be top Spanish goalscorer
Not only is it a battle for the Champions League places, but there is also a good fight for the Zarra Trophy, given the top Spanish goalscorer in the EA Sports LALIGA, between Ayoze Pérez and Oihan Sancet. The player from Tenerife has 12 goals to his name, while the player from Pamplona is one goal ahead with nine games to go.
The Athletic player scored two goals against Villarreal, while the Submarine’s striker has yet to score against the Basque club. Ayoze will have that extra motivation to get on the scoresheet and overtake his rival for the Zarra Trophy. The last winner of this award while playing for the Yellows was Gerard Moreno in the 2020/2021 season.
In terms of precedents, in the first meeting this season, the Groguets lost at San Mamés (2-0). This time La Cerámica knows what is at stake and will be pushing as hard as possible to move three points clear of fourth place, with a game in hand due to the postponed match against Espanyol, which will be played on 27th April. Marcelino’s side will be looking to overcome Athletic Club’s two-goal advantage from the first leg to put the advantage in their favour in the event of a points draw on the final day.
In the last two meetings between Villarreal CF and Athletic Club at the Estadio de la Cerámica, the results were 2-3 and 5-1, with seven goals for the home team and four for the visitors between the two encounters. Sunday sees a final at 9pm CEST at La Cerámica in what is sure to be a tremendous battle for the UEFA Champions League.
