Football
La Liga: Leganes vs Villarreal Preview: Tips, Odds and Prediction
SportsBoom previews the La Liga match between Leganes and Villarreal at Estadio Butarque on Sunay,22nd December 2024. With both teams locked by different aspirations at this point of the season, La Liga betting fans are already diving into the odds and assessing both teams, hoping to find the best value. For a detailed, in-depth look at the match, be sure to check out our full preview.
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Ayoze Perez with teammates//Getty Images
Sixth-placed Villarreal travel to Estadio Butarque to face 15th-placed Leganes in the Spanish La Liga on Sunday. Leganes are fresh off upsetting league leaders Barcelona 1-0 at Estadio Olimpic Lluis Companys, a much-needed win that ended their three-match winless streak. On the other hand, Villarreal will hope to terminate a six-game winless streak in all competitions.
Last time out, Leganes ended a dominant run of recent Villarreal victories with a 2-1 away victory, prior to which Villarreal had walked away with 4 wins in a row. Leganes will hope to turn a new page, especially considering this fixture took a four-year break with their demotion to the La Liga 2.
Leganes vs Villarreal Match Details
Date: Sunday, December 22, 2024
Kickoff: 17:30 UTC
Location: Estadio Municipal de Butarque, Leganes
Last Meeting: Villarreal 1-2 Leganes (March 8th, 2020 – La Liga)
Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability: Villarreal Clear Favourites
Home: 159/50 (4.18) – 23.9%
Draw: 68/25 (3.72) – 26.9%
Away: 89/100 (1.89) – 52.9%
*Odds courtesy of Betandyou, subject to change
Head-to-Head Record
Last Five Meetings (La Liga)
08/03/2020: Villarreal 1-2 Leganes
14/09/2019 Leganes 0-3 Villarreal
21/04/2019 Villarreal 2-1 Leganes
16/09/2018 Leganes 0-1 Villarreal
17/04/2018 Villarreal 2-1 Leganes
Leganes Current Form: WLDLW
CD Leganes are in a precarious position, sitting at 15th spot on the La Liga table with 18 points from 17 matches. They have struggled to find consistency this season as evidenced by their record of four wins, six draws and seven defeats.
However, last week’s shock 1-0 away victory against table-topping Barcelona may prove to be the turning point for the Cucumber Growers as they seek to climb out of the relegation battle.
Coach Borja Jimenez will hope his team continues last week’s resilient defensive display and shore up a leaky defence if they are to claim points against Villarreal.
Their recent form showing two wins, a draw and two defeats in their last five matches across La Liga, suggests they are capable of producing results as well as faltering.
Leganes took the spoils last time they faced Villarreal with a 2-1 away victory back in 2020. They have been playing in La Liga 2 since then and will be hoping for a better record against their opponents with their return to the Primera División.
Key Players to Watch
- Marko Dmitrovic: The Veteran keeper was immense in Leganes’s victory against league leaders Barcelona last week, putting in a man-of-the-match display. Marko shut out the league’s most potent attack on his way to claiming his fourth clean sheet in 11 matches. With him between the goalpost, Villarreal will need to be precise if they are to find a way past him.
- Sergio Gonzalez: Leganes’s captain was rock solid, marshalling the backline against Barcelona without putting a foot wrong. Gonzalez will need to be at his best this weekend if they are to claim another scalp.
- Oscar Rodríguez: Oscar Rodríguez has been a constant for Leganes’s attack this season playing in 12 of their matches this season and registering three assists. Capable of playing across the frontline and as an attacking midfielder, the 26-year-old will be the orchestrator for Leganes’s attack.
Leganes Team News
Leganes are still without left back Eric Franquesa who is yet to recover from a muscle injury. Javier Hernandez is also sidelined after undergoing nose surgery.
Villarreal Current Form: DLLDD
Villarreal enter this fixture sitting fifth in the Primera Division, having accumulated 27 points from their 17 matches. Their record of seven wins, six draws, and four defeats speaks to a team that has been largely consistent.
However, the last couple of matches have not gone as planned for the Yellow Submarines, failing to claim a win in six matches in all competitions. This slump has seen them record three defeats and three draws, a concerning trend that manager Marcelino Garcia will be eager to reverse.
Marcelino will be looking to galvanize his squad and rediscover their early-season form if they are to continue their pursuit of European football for next season. With 29 goals scored and 28 conceded, Villarreal have shown they can be both potent in attack and vulnerable in defence, promising an entertaining encounter for the neutrals.
Villarreal have dominated this fixture with four wins to Leganes' single victory, but they will need to be clinical and disciplined if they are to bounce back to winning ways.
Key Players to Watch
- Ayoze Perez: Ayoze Perez was once again on the score sheet against Rayo Vallecano in midweek and will be a menace for Yellow Submarines against Leganes. The Spanish International has tallied eight goals in 12 matches this season.
- Santi Comesana: Santi Comesana put in an industrious shift for Villarreal who had defender Willy Kambwala sent off in the 32nd minute against Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday night. With Papa Gueye suspended for this clash, Comesana will be key and his engine will be crucial.
- Raul Albiol: Raul Albiol will need to step in and patch a leaky defence that is affected by injuries and suspensions. The 39-year-old still oozes class and is sure to provide experience to an inconsistent backline.
Villarreal Team News
Villarreal will be without a number of their first-team player for this clash. Papa Gueye and Willy Kambwala are suspended.
Alfonso Pedraza, Diego Conde, Ilias Akhomach, Nicolas Pepe and Ramon Terrats are still sidelined.
Predicted Line-ups
Leganes: 4-2-3-1
Dmitrovic; Altimira, Saenz, Gonzalez, Nastasic; Noupa, Brasanac; Rodriguez, Cisse, El Haddadi; De la Fuente
Villarreal 4-4-2
Junior; Kiko, Albiol, Costa, Cardona; Pino, Comesana, Parejo, Baena; Barry, Perez
Suggested Bets
Both Teams to Score: Although Leganes have struggled this season, they have demonstrated a knack for scoring, particularly at home. Villarreal's defensive weaknesses further reinforce this prediction. (81/100 with BetandYou) (81/100 with 1xBet) (17/20 with Stake)
Over 2.5 Goals: Leganes overall goal-scoring record remains modest, averaging 1 goal per game over 19 matches, while Villarreal have been more prolific in attack, averaging 2 goals per game. (1/1 with BetandYou) (1/1 with 1xBet) (49/50 with Stake)
Half Time/Full Time- Draw/Villarreal
Half-Time: Leganes are likely to start cautiously, focusing on defence, especially at home. Villarreal might dominate possession but could struggle to break down a compact Leganes defence early on. A draw at half-time is a plausible outcome.
Full-Time: Villarreal's superior attacking quality and depth are likely to prevail in the second half. Leganes could tire defensively, creating openings for Villarreal. A victory for Villarreal is a reasonable expectation.
(37/10 with BetandYou) (37/10 with 1xBet) (37/10 with Stake)
Value Bets
Villarreal to Score First: Villarreal are the more attacking side and are likely to dominate possession. Their quality in attack and Leganes' cautious start increase the chances of them scoring first, hence they are favoured to get the opening goal. (13/20 with BetandYou) (13/20 with 1xBet) (13/20 with Stake)
Ayoze Perez- Anytime Goalscorer: Perez has been prolific, netting seven goals this season, making him a key player to watch. (21/10 with BetandYou) (21/10 with 1xBet) (17/10 with Stake)
Nicolas Pepe- Anytime Goalscorer: Since his arrival, Pepe has made valuable contributions to Villarreal's attacking play, and he remains a key player to watch in upcoming matches. (7/4 with BetandYou) (7/4 with 1xBet) (12/5 with Stake)
Prediction: Villarreal to Win & Over 2.5 Goals
Leganes will likely be solid defensively, especially at home, but their lack of consistent attacking power makes them vulnerable to Villarreal’s superior offence. Villarreal, despite some defensive vulnerabilities, have more firepower with players like Ayoze Perez, Nicolas Pepe, and Alex Baena, who can break down Leganes' defence.
Ian Mugo Wanyeki is based in Nairobi, Kenya. He is a sports enthusiast with vast knowledge of different sport disciplines. Ian is a graduate with a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Kenyatta University. He is a Kenyan journalist who’s worked as a sports analyst at Covenant Television Network, as a sports reporter at NTV and as a Sports Correspondent/contributor at Quartz Africa.
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