Villarreal vs Espanyol Predictions

• Both teams have scored in 10 of Villarreal’s 12 La Liga home games this season
• Espanyol have scored in eight of their last 11 away games
• Ayoze Perez has scored in four of his last seven league appearances

Espanyol can make it tough for Champions-League chasing side

Villarreal will be expected to claim all three points against Espanyol when the Champions League-chasing Yellow Submarines entertain the Parakeets at Estadio de la Ceramica on Monday. Marcelino’s men remain on course for a top-five finish that would most probably see them return to the top table of European football.

Yet Villarreal have won only five of their 12 home league games this term – a sequence that does not quite justify their short price of around 1/3 for victory in this clash. Espanyol have recently dragged themselves out of the doldrums into their highest La Liga placing since September with a run of three wins and three draws in their last seven league matches.

Manolo Gonzalez’s side won 1-0 at Alaves last weekend to put further distance between the three clubs in the relegation places and may prove tough to break down again. Espanyol have conceded multiple goals in only one of their last 11 league games and that was only because of an 84th-minute Real Sociedad winner.

Yellow Submarines are best-loved by BTTS backers  

Backing both teams to score in this clash comes with a touch of peril because of the Parakeets’ improved defensive record, but Villarreal are the most reliable team for BTTS backers in La Liga with 76% of their games featuring goals at both ends.

That option is still more preferable to taking either of these clubs to win the match in 90 minutes, although there is probably good value in the draw price. Four of Villarreal’s last eight La Liga home games have finished all square while Espanyol’s last five away trips have all been close.

Finally, back Ayoze Perez to come up with the goods for the Yellow Submarines again. The ex-Newcastle forward has been the most cost-efficient signing in Spain this season, earning Villarreal 15 points with his goals.