CD Leganés and Villarreal CF are gearing up for what promises to be an exciting clashes as they meet for the 18th round of the La Liga season at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque on December 22, 2024. After stunning the football world with a 1-0 victory over Barcelona last weekend, Leganés now aims to build on this momentum against Villarreal, who are grappling with their own challenges.
Currently sitting 15th on the La Liga table, Leganés holds only three points above the relegation zone with 18 points accumulated from 17 matches played. The team’s coach, Borja Jiménez, has witnessed his squad's mixed form, and they'll need to perform consistently to avoid getting dragged back toward the bottom.
Villarreal, on the other hand, finds themselves perched at 6th position with 27 points from 17 matches. Despite this relatively high standing, the team has been on a concerning winless run, drawing three and losing two of their last five league outings. Their recent performances have raised questions about their capability as they edge closer to the upper echelons of the table.
The last meeting between the two clubs saw Leganés pull off a surprise 2-1 win at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Cerámica back in March 2020. Since then, Villarreal has enjoyed success against Leganés, winning four of the last five encounters. The Yellow Submarine, as Villarreal is nicknamed, will be eager to restore their dominance.
Recent form gives both teams plenty to ponder. Leganés has managed four goals on average per match lately, with their defense allowing 15 goals, showcasing vulnerabilities on both ends. Villarreal has fared slightly worse defensively, conceding 28 goals throughout the season—it’s one of the poorest records in the league, behind only Valladolid and Espanyol. This matchup could very well depend on which side can fortify their backline.
Leganés' recent performances suggest they've been finding form at the right time. They pulled off their unexpected win at Barcelona, thanks to early heroics from Sergio González, who netted the only goal of the match just four minutes after kick-off. Such positivity may propel Leganés forward as they engage with Villarreal, who seem to be searching for their identity following inconsistency.
Player absences could play pivotal roles heading to match day. While Leganés is missing Javier Hernández due to suspension, Villarreal will be without key players like Ayoze Pérez and Dani Parejo due to injuries. Pérez is particularly missed as he leads the goalscoring charts for Villarreal with eight goals this term, adding more frustration to their attacking framework.
When betting on this clash, punters are eyeing two main suggestions: both teams scoring and total goals over 2.5, considering the current defensive records. While Villarreal holds the fourth position on the scoring charts across La Liga, Leganés' recent resurgence may help them strike back.
Bookmakers favor Villarreal slightly, providing odds of 1.98 for them to clinch victory on the road. With their potential strength and need to bounce back, many analysts suggest placing bets on Villarreal would yield good returns. For safer bets, the markets leaning toward both teams scoring hold considerable promise; recent statistics show these teams have found the net continuously against each other.
Overall, this matchup holds great significance for both teams—Villarreal aims to reconnect with winning ways as they chase down European placements, meanwhile, Leganés seeks to solidify their survival hopes. A thrilling encounter between these two contrasting styles will undoubtedly engage La Liga fans this weekend.
