Villarreal v Espanyol prediction

La Liga · · Estadio de la Ceramica

Updated · refreshed continuously

TACTIX’s free model pick for Villarreal v Espanyol, La Liga on Fri, 30 Oct 2026 20:00 GMT posts shortly before kick-off. Form, head-to-head and league standing for both sides are below.

Match preview, in numbers

The match

Villarreal host Espanyol in La Liga on Friday 30 October (kick-off 20:00 UK).

The key numbers

Villarreal are unbeaten in the last six meetings with Espanyol, every meeting checked. Espanyol are winless in their last four matches in all competitions.

Form and the table

10 of Villarreal’s last 15 results in all competitions went over 2.5 goals (67%). Both teams scored in 11 of Villarreal’s last 15 results in all competitions (73%). At home, Villarreal have three wins, one draw and three defeats in their last 7 home matches in all competitions — 1.43 points per game, scoring 2.29 and conceding 1.57. Villarreal have scored 13 goals, the seventh-most (shared) of the 20 clubs (2026/27 so far). Villarreal have conceded 13 goals, the 10th-fewest of the 20 clubs.

Seven of Espanyol’s last 15 results in all competitions went over 2.5 goals (47%). Both teams scored in nine of Espanyol’s last 15 results in all competitions (60%). Away from home, Espanyol have two wins, one draw and three defeats in their last 6 away matches in all competitions — 1.17 points per game, scoring 1.33 and conceding 1.33. Espanyol have scored 11 goals, the eighth-fewest (shared) of the 20 clubs (2026/27 so far). Espanyol have conceded 12 goals, the eighth-fewest (shared) of the 20 clubs.

Villarreal (12th) and Espanyol (15th) are one point apart, 2026/27 so far. TACTIX’s Glicko-2 team ratings have Villarreal the stronger side, 162 rating points above Espanyol (Villarreal 1574, Espanyol 1412, after at least 275 rated matches each).

Head-to-head

The most recent meeting, on 9 February 2026, finished Villarreal 4–1 Espanyol.

Team news

Predicted Villarreal XI (4-4-2): P. Gulácsi, R. Veiga, A. Freeman, S. Cardona, P. Navarro, P. Gueye, S. Comesaña, N. Saliba, N. Pépé, A. Pérez, G. Mikautadze — derived from the last 8 line-ups, most-used eleven. By TACTIX Impact, Nicolas Pépé (3.8 per match over seven appearances, two goals) and Alberto Moleiro (3.6 per match over 11 appearances, two goals and three assists) have been Villarreal’s most influential players 2026/27, all competitions. In numbers for Villarreal (2026/27, all competitions, before kick-off), Nicolas Pépé averages 2.0 key passes per 90 over 823 minutes, with a key pass in six of the last 10 appearances. Alberto Moleiro averages 3.2 key passes per 90 over 685 minutes, with a key pass in nine of the last 10 appearances.

Predicted Espanyol XI (4-2-3-1): M. Dmitrović, O. El Hilali, R. Hinojo, L. Cabrera, C. Riedel, E. Expósito, J. Hernandez, T. Dolan, U. González, Á. Calatrava, R. Fernández — derived from the last 8 line-ups, most-used eleven. By TACTIX Impact, Roberto Fernández (4.0 per match over nine appearances, six goals) and Javier Hernandez (3.4 per match over nine appearances, five assists) have been Espanyol’s most influential players 2026/27, all competitions. In numbers for Espanyol (2026/27, all competitions, before kick-off), Roberto Fernández averages 2.1 shots per 90 over 867 minutes, with a shot in 10 of the last 10 appearances. Javier Hernandez averages 2.0 key passes per 90 over 691 minutes, with a key pass in six of the last nine appearances.

Written from the matches TACTIX holds for both sides; each figure names the games it is counted over.

The numbers

  • Kick-off: · La Liga · Estadio de la Ceramica
  • Head-to-head (last 6): Villarreal 6 · draws 0 · Espanyol 0 · 3 goals/game
  • Recent form: Villarreal 3W 1D 1L · Espanyol 1W 1D 3L

Villarreal v Espanyol (La Liga): the key numbers are on this page — and TACTIX’s live, market-by-market track record is one click away (as of 20 October 2026). See the live track record →

Key stats

1.75 / 1
Goals
against 1.5 / 1.5 · 3 of the last 5 over 2.5
over 8 matches
6.63 / 2.63
Corners
against 4.63 / 6 · 3 of the last 5 over 9.5
over 8 matches
6 / 3.38
Shots on target
against 3.88 / 5.75 · 0 of the last 5 over 8.5
over 8 matches
1.75 / 3.13
Cards
against 2.75 / 3.25 · 4 of the last 5 over 3.5
over 8 matches

Per game, last 8 completed matches, to 17 October 2026. Over/under figures use standard thresholds, not bookmaker lines.

Per game, last 8 completed matches, to 17 October 2026. Bars: for (mint) against (amber), scaled to the larger figure in the row. Over/under figures use standard thresholds, not bookmaker lines.
Per gameVillarreal for / againstLineEspanyol for / against
Goals scored
1.75 for · 1.5 against n 8
2.5standard
1 for · 1.5 against n 8
Corners won
6.63 for · 4.63 against n 8
9.5standard
2.63 for · 6 against n 8
Shots
16.5 for · 11.5 against n 8
19.5standard
12.25 for · 14.25 against n 8
Shots on target
6 for · 3.88 against n 8
8.5standard
3.38 for · 5.75 against n 8
Fouls committed
10.38 for · 11.75 against n 8
21.5standard
16 for · 10.88 against n 8
Cards shown
1.75 for · 2.75 against n 8
3.5standard
3.13 for · 3.25 against n 8
Villarreal
Villarreal — Discipline: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances before kick-off, to 17 October 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
PlayerMinsFouls committed 1+2+Fouls won 1+2+Likely duel
N. Saliba n 863.6
2.36/3
1.88/1
—
T. Oluwaseyi n 836.8
2.14/2
0.62/0
—
T. Buchanan n 856.9
26/3
3.28/4
—
Santi Comesaña n 864
1.98/2
1.14/1
—
C. Macia n 819.1
1.82/1
0.61/0
—
Villarreal — Shooting: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances before kick-off, to 17 October 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
PlayerMinsShots 1+2+Shots on target 1+2+
G. Mikautadze n 845.4
2.55/3
25/3
T. Buchanan n 856.9
2.46/5
1.24/1
T. Oluwaseyi n 836.8
2.45/2
1.22/2
Alberto Moleiro n 867.8
2.37/5
1.34/4
N. Pépé n 867.6
2.27/5
1.57/2
Villarreal — Goalscoring: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances before kick-off, to 17 October 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
PlayerMinsGoals 1+2+Assists 1+2+
Ayoze Pérez n 852.4
0.21/0
0.63/0
Alberto Moleiro n 867.8
0.32/0
0.31/1
Gerard Moreno n 843.3
0.31/0
0.31/0
N. Pépé n 867.6
0.32/0
0.21/0
G. Mikautadze n 845.4
0.52/0
00/0
Villarreal — Tackles: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances before kick-off, to 17 October 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
PlayerMinsTackles 1+2+
C. Macia n 819.1
7.65/3
A. Diatta n 334.7
3.52/1
Carlos Romero n 875.1
2.77/4
A. Freeman n 872.8
2.68/3
S. Mouriño n 865.3
2.45/4
Villarreal — Goalkeeper saves: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances before kick-off, to 17 October 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 2+, lower cell 3+.
PlayerMinsSaves 2+3+
P. Gulácsi n 882.4
2.63/3
Luíz Júnior n 890
2.36/3
Espanyol
Espanyol — Discipline: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances before kick-off, to 17 October 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
PlayerMinsFouls committed 1+2+Fouls won 1+2+Likely duel
Marcos Fernández n 829
2.74/2
0.41/0
—
Rafel Bauzà n 857.9
2.56/4
2.17/2
—
O. El Hilali n 888.1
2.46/5
0.84/1
—
Javier Hernandez n 876.1
2.16/5
1.65/4
—
C. Riedel n 869.4
1.96/3
0.21/0
—
Espanyol — Shooting: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances before kick-off, to 17 October 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
PlayerMinsShots 1+2+Shots on target 1+2+
Marcos Fernández n 829
3.56/2
1.63/1
Álex Calatrava n 843.8
2.35/3
0.83/0
Jofre Carreras n 820.9
2.22/1
1.11/1
Roberto Fernández n 885.9
2.18/7
15/2
Javi Puado n 853
2.13/2
1.33/2
Espanyol — Goalscoring: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances before kick-off, to 17 October 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
PlayerMinsGoals 1+2+Assists 1+2+
Marcos Fernández n 829
0.41/0
0.41/0
Rafel Bauzà n 857.9
0.21/0
0.42/0
Javier Hernandez n 876.1
00/0
0.64/0
Roberto Fernández n 885.9
0.53/1
00/0
Pere Milla n 825.5
00/0
0.41/0
Espanyol — Tackles: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances before kick-off, to 17 October 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
PlayerMinsTackles 1+2+
Q. Hartman n 871
3.66/4
Álex Calatrava n 843.8
3.15/3
Gabriel Moscardo n 839.1
2.94/4
Roger Hinojo n 868
2.87/5
Pol Lozano n 848.9
2.85/3
Espanyol — Goalkeeper saves: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances before kick-off, to 17 October 2026. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 2+, lower cell 3+.
PlayerMinsSaves 2+3+
M. Dmitrović n 890
3.56/5
Ángel Fortuño n 490
3.23/2

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Form, head-to-head & standings

The numbers behind Villarreal v Espanyol — recent results, past meetings and where each side sits. (TACTIX’s model forecast is in the projections below.)

Recent form
VillarrealWWLWD
Last 5: 3W 1D 1L · 1.8 scored / 0.8 conceded per game
EspanyolWLLDL
Last 5: 1W 1D 3L · 1 scored / 1.4 conceded per game
Head-to-head last 6
Villarreal 6 · 0 draws · Espanyol 0 · 3 goals/game
  • 2026-02-09 Villarreal 4–1 Espanyol
  • 2025-11-08 Espanyol 0–2 Villarreal
  • 2025-04-27 Villarreal 1–0 Espanyol
  • 2024-09-26 Espanyol 1–2 Villarreal
  • 2023-04-27 Villarreal 4–2 Espanyol
  • 2022-11-09 Espanyol 0–1 Villarreal
League standing · 2026/27
Villarreal#12 pos9 pts9 pl0 GD
Espanyol#15 pos8 pts9 pl-1 GD
Goals per game
Villarreal scored1.44
Espanyol scored1.22
Villarreal conceded1.44
Espanyol conceded1.33

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Frequently asked questions

What is the head-to-head record between Villarreal and Espanyol?
In their last 6 meetings, Villarreal won 6, Espanyol won 0 and there were 0 draws, averaging 3 goals per game.
What is the recent form of Villarreal and Espanyol?
Recent form — Villarreal 3W 1D 1L; Espanyol 1W 1D 3L.

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