Villarreal CF shifts focus to LaLiga and the tough clash against Osasuna at the Estadio de la Cerámica (Saturday, 6:30pm)

Villarreal CF returns to the Estadio de la Cerámica, the stage where they have won the only two matches they have played at home this season. Marcelino’s side hosts Osasuna this Saturday at 6:30pm, with the objective of switching off the European ‘chip’ and focusing 100% on LaLiga, after the match against Tottenham Hotspur (1-0) in London.

The recent arrivals of Tani Oluwaseyi, Arnau Tenas, Georges Mikautadze and Manor Solomon at the end of the transfer window, together with the international break, have limited their time on the training pitch with Marcelino. In just three days Villarreal have faced two of the top teams in Europe in Atlético and Tottenham.

Coming back home is always a joy. The match against Osasuna is a fantastic opportunity to secure a victory and lift the team’s spirits, as they began a demanding marathon of high-intensity games every three days, between LaLiga and the Champions League, starting with the clash against Atlético.

In the league Villarreal currently sit sixth with seven points, one ahead of Osasuna who are ninth with six points. The side from Pamplona have won both of their home games but were beaten on the road by Espanyol and Real Madrid.

Three consecutive wins at La Cerámica against Osasuna

Villarreal have won their last three home games against Osasuna. The most recent was last season, when Ayoze Pérez scored twice under Marcelino.

Before that run, Osasuna had picked up back-to-back wins in Vila-real in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons under Unai Emery, two years in which Villarreal lifted the UEFA Europa League and reached the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.

As Villarreal head coach, Marcelino has never lost to Osasuna, winning four of the six meetings, all of them at La Cerámica.