Villarreal will be looking to make it four La Liga victories in a row when they travel to Estadio Municipal de Balaidos on Friday night to face Celta Vigo.
The Yellow Submarine's impressive run has left them in sixth spot in the table, only one point behind fourth-placed Real Betis, while Celta sit 16th, just one point ahead of the relegation zone.
Match preview
© Reuters
Entering last Friday's league contest with Elche, Celta had not won in Spain's top flight since the start of October, with the poor run of form leaving them dangerously close to the relegation zone.
However, the Sky Blues managed to secure a huge three points last time out, recording a 1-0 victory at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero courtesy of an early goal from Iago Aspas.
The win moved Celta onto 16 points from their 16 matches, which has left them in 16th position in the table, just one point ahead of 18th-placed Cadiz on the same number of games.
Carlos Carvalhal's side were beaten by Espanyol in the Copa del Rey earlier this month, so they now only have La Liga football to concentrate on for the rest of the season, which should help them in their battle to remain at this level of football.
Celta have only lost one of their last three league matches against Villarreal and recorded a 4-2 victory over the Yellow Submarine when the two sides locked horns in May 2021, while the points were shared in a 1-1 draw in the corresponding fixture during the 2021-22 campaign.
© Reuters
Villarreal, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a morale-boosting victory over the champions Real Madrid last weekend.
Karim Benzema's 60th-minute penalty cancelled out an effort from Yeremy Pino to leave the two sides level, but Gerard Moreno then scored a penalty of his own to send Quique Setien's side back ahead, and the hosts held firm to pick up an impressive three points.
Villarreal have beaten Espanyol, Valencia and Real Madrid in their last three league matches, which has left them in sixth spot in the table on 27 points, only one point behind fourth-placed Real Betis.
Setien's side are very much in the top-four race at this stage of the season, while they are active in two other competitions - the Europa Conference League and the Copa del Rey, with the team facing Real Madrid in the last-16 stage of the latter on January 17.
Villarreal have finished seventh in their last two La Liga campaigns, while they have not been fourth since 2015-16, so a return to the Champions League spots would go down as a hugely successful season.
Team News
© Reuters
Celta had no injury concerns entering their clash with Elche last time out and that remains the case, with head coach Carvalhal expected to have a full squad for this contest.
Due to the nature of the performance against Elche, it seems likely that the starting side will be similar if not identical, with a 5-3-2 formation featuring Aspas in the final third of the field.
There might be a change in the front two, though, with Goncalo Paciencia potentially dropping out for Jorgen Strand Larsen, which is a substitution that occurred at the interval last time out.
As for Villarreal, Giovani Lo Celso and Nicolas Jackson remain doubts due to injury, while the visitors will definitely be missing Alex Baena and Raul Albiol due to suspensions.
Baena and Albiol both picked up bookings in the victory over Real Madrid, which will rule them out here.
Etienne Capoue missed out against the champions due to muscular fatigue, but he should be able to return for this match, while Albiol's spot is expected to be taken by Aissa Mandi.
There are unlikely to be any alterations elsewhere, with Gerard Moreno again set to be joined in the final third of the field by Pino and Samuel Chukwueze.
Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:
Marchesin; Mallo, Mingueza, Aidoo, Nunez, Galan; Veiga, Beltran, Cervi; Aspas, Larsen
Villarreal possible starting lineup:
Reina; Foyth, Mandi, P Torres, A Moreno; Coquelin, Parejo, Capoue; Chukwueze, G Moreno, Pino
We say: Celta Vigo 1-2 Villarreal
Villarreal have only won three of their nine away La Liga matches this season, but we just have a feeling that the Yellow Submarine will triumph here. Setien's side were excellent against Real Madrid and will be taking on a Celta outfit that have found it difficult this term, so an away victory is being predicted.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
