Villarreal will be aiming to get their top-four challenge back on track in La Liga when they host Mallorca on Monday night.
The Yellow Submarine are currently fifth in the La Liga table, picking up 30 points from their 19 league games this term, while Mallorca are sixth, also boasting 30 points from the same number of fixtures, demonstrating the importance of this contest.
Match preview
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Villarreal have won eight, drawn six and lost five of their 19 La Liga matches this season to collect 30 points, which has left them in fifth spot in the division, six points behind fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao.
Marcelino's side are out of the Copa del Rey and do not have European football this term, so their sole focus is on the league, which could give them an advantage over Athletic when it comes to the race for fourth.
The Yellow Submarine ended 2024 with a 5-2 success over Leganes, but they were beaten 1-0 by Real Sociedad last time out, with the defeat proving to be their fifth in Spain's top flight during the 2024-25 campaign.
Villarreal have been an excellent watch this season, scoring 34 times and conceding 31, with their defensive record actually the joint-third worst in the division, which is remarkable considering their spot in the table.
Marcelino's team have only won three of their nine home league fixtures this term, and they will be welcoming a Mallorca outfit that boast five victories from their nine away La Liga games in 2024-25.
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Mallorca are also enjoying an impressive season, boasting a record of nine wins, three draws and seven defeats from 19 matches, which has left them in sixth spot in the division on 30 points.
Los Piratas have finished 16th and 15th in two of their last three campaigns, but they are well on course for a top-half finish this term and must be considered as serious contenders for a European finish in Spain's top flight.
Jagoba Arrasate's side have not actually been in La Liga action since beating Getafe 1-0 on December 21, with their last two matches taking place in the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup respectively.
Mallorca suffered a shock result in the Copa del Rey, being knocked out of the competition by Pontevedra courtesy of a 3-0 defeat, before losing 3-0 to Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the Spanish Super Cup.
Los Bermellones are winless in their last three league matches against Villarreal, but the points were shared in a 1-1 draw in the corresponding fixture during the 2024-25 campaign.
Team News
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Villarreal will welcome Yeremy Pino back into their squad following a suspension, but Diego Conde, Alfonso Pedraza, Ramon Terrats, Nicolas Pepe, Ayoze Perez and Ilias Akhomach could again all miss out.
Perez has scored 11 times in 14 appearances for Villarreal this season, including eight goals in Spain's top flight, but he has missed the team's last two matches due to a muscular problem.
Pino could feature alongside Thierno Barry in the final third of the field, but there should be a return in the middle of the defence for Raul Albiol, with Willy Kambwala likely to be the player to drop down to the bench.
As for Mallorca, Manu Morlanes and Vedat Muriqi will be back in the squad after recent suspensions in La Liga, but Antonio Raillo is out of the contest due to a muscular problem.
Muriqi and Cyle Larin are set to operate as the front two for the away side, while Sergi Darder and Robert Navarro are likely to feature in the wide positions, with Dani Rodriguez being kept in reserve.
Samu Costa was back involved against Real Madrid last time out following a recent injury problem, and he could again start on the bench here, with Omar Mascarell and the returning Morlanes potentially featuring in central midfield.
Villarreal possible starting lineup:
Luiz Junior; Femenia, Foyth, Albiol, S Cardona; Suarez, Comesana, Parejo, Baena; Pino, Barry
Mallorca possible starting lineup:
Greif; Maffeo, Valjent, Copete, Mojica; Navarro, Morlanes, Mascarell, Darder; Larin, Muriqi
We say: Villarreal 2-1 Mallorca
Villarreal are again set to be missing some key players for this match, and they will be coming up against a strong Mallorca outfit; Arrasate's side have been beaten four times on their travels this term, though, and we are backing the Yellow Submarine to secure all three points in front of their own supporters.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
