Villarreal vs Valencia Predictions

Los Ches to struggle again

Villarreal’s strong attack will be up against a leaky Valencia defence when the teams meet in a derby on Saturday. The hosts have scored 46 goals and conceded 34 in 23 Primera Liga games this season, while Valencia have shipped 37 and scored 24 in the same number of matches. Take both teams to get a goal.

Villarreal are fifth in the league table, 13 places above Valencia, with the two sides separated by 18 points. The hosts have won 11 of their 23 games this season, while the visitors have just five wins.

Villarreal are hard to beat and have avoided defeat in six of their last seven league games. They come into this match on the back of two consecutive wins and have won seven of their last nine home games against Valencia.

Villarreal beat Las Palmas 2-1 on Saturday, their third consecutive Primera Liga game with both teams scoring. They have won nine of the 13 games in which they’ve scored first this season and this was the seventh win in the 11 matches in which they have been odds-on.

Neither side has been solid defensively of late, which could mean goals in this encounter. Villarreal have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last three league games and Valencia have shipped 37 goals this season – an average of 1.6 goals conceded per game from 23 matches. Only two other teams have shipped more goals in the Primera Liga this season than the 37 that Valencia have let in.

Both teams have found the net in five of Valencia’s last six Primera Liga games away from home.

Villarreal have been the winners in two Primera Liga home games in a row and, with 18 of their 23 matches this season seeing both teams score, a 3-1 victory for the hosts is an appealing correct-score option.

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Edited by Mark Langdon