Elche vs Villarreal Prediction & Betting Tips (3 January)

You have to get up very early in the morning to surprise Elche in his lair. The promoted side has simply not conceded a single defeat in their home stadium in La Liga. Bétis 1-1, Real Madrid 2-2, Girona 3-0, Real Sociedad 1-1, Bilbao 0-0 and Celta Vigo 2-1 all came to defeat Eder Sarabia's men. During the previous day, it was Rayo Vallecano who won 4-0. In the standings, Elche simply occupies the first half of the table 9th with 6 lengths behind the European race.

The year 2025 ended badly for the Yellow Submarine of Villarreal, beaten by Barcelona in La Liga 3-5, by Racing Santander in the Copa del Rey 2-1 and in the Champions League for the reception of Copenhagen 2-3. To briefly mention the C1, the chances of qualifying for the 1/16 finals are almost non-existent now for Marcelino's men. Still 4th in La Liga, Villarreal has a day late to play on the top 3 Barcelona, ​​Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid but the gap has widened considerably with 7 lengths behind Real Madrid and 11 behind the Blaugrana, bosses of the championship. 

Unavailable before the winter break, striker Andre Silva (4 goals) and Diangana (defender) could once again be missing. This will not be the case for the excellent Rafa Mir (6 goals in La Liga) and the valuable midfielders Febas, Martim Neto, Rodrigo Mendoza and Marc Aguado. Note the suspension of midfielder Federico Redondo. For Marcelino, winger Ilyas Akhomach joined the Moroccan selection to play the CAN at home. The same goes for midfielder Pape Gueye (Senegal). The young Alassane Diatta was not called up with the Lions of Téranga. Absent for months, Pau Cabanes, Kambwala and Logan Costa have not made any good resolutions and will remain warm in the infirmary just like the full-backs Mourino and Cardona.

In the middle, the former gunner Partey is still on the flank while the legendary Gerard Moreno (4 goals in 7 appearances in La Liga) is uncertain. Left on the sidelines by his coach with the Elephants for the CAN, Nicolas Pépé will be at the disposal of the Yellow Submarine just like Alberto Moleiro (6 goals, 2 assists in La Liga) and the former Lyon player Georges Mikautadze (3 goals, 2 assists). The probable line-ups for Elche - Villarreal: Elche: Pena - Nunez, Chust, Affengruber, Bigas, Valera - Febas, Aguado, Neto - Rodriguez (or Silva), Mir.Villarreal: Junior - Navarro, Marin, Foyth, Cardona - Pepe, Parejo, Comesana, Moleiro - G.Moreno (or Mikautadze), A.Perez.