Villarreal vs Espanyol - Predictions, Stats & Odds
La Liga Statistics, AI predictions, (Expected) Lineups and Insights for Gameweek 23
Goals
Game Review
Villarreal delivered a commanding performance in their La Liga clash against Espanyol, securing a 4-1 victory that was largely expected given their recent form and league position. The match, held on Monday, 9 February 2026, saw Villarreal dominate proceedings from the outset, with key contributions from several standout players. The game began with Villarreal asserting their dominance, and it was Georges Mikautadze (GAP +0.4%) who opened the scoring in the 35th minute, setting the tone for the rest of the match. Just six minutes later, José Salinas (GAP +1.6%) doubled the lead, putting Villarreal in a comfortable position before halftime. Espanyol struggled to find their rhythm, and despite some efforts to claw back into the game, they were unable to match Villarreal's intensity and tactical discipline. Villarreal's lineup, featuring players like Nicolas Pépé (GAP +2.7%) and Pape Gueye (GAP +4.8%), showed no changes from their previous match, indicating a settled and confident squad. Espanyol, on the other hand, also made no changes to their starting lineup, a decision that perhaps reflected a lack of depth or confidence in alternative options. The absence of any substitutions during the match further highlighted the challenges faced by Espanyol in adapting to Villarreal's gameplay. In terms of individual performances, Luiz Júnior (GAP +5.0%) was particularly influential, contributing significantly to Villarreal's midfield dominance. His ability to control the tempo and distribute the ball effectively was crucial in maintaining Villarreal's attacking momentum. The result leaves Villarreal in a strong position in the league, bolstering their points tally and enhancing their prospects for European qualification. Espanyol, meanwhile, will need to reassess their strategies as they continue to hover in the lower half of the table, struggling to find consistency in their performances. Post-match reactions from the Villarreal camp were understandably positive, with players and staff expressing satisfaction with the team's execution and the result. Espanyol, however, will need to regroup quickly to address the tactical and personnel issues highlighted in this encounter.
Lineups
Villarreal
| Pos | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | |
| DEF | |
| DEF | |
| DEF | |
| MID | |
| MID | |
| MID | |
| MID | |
| FWD | |
| FWD | |
| FWD |
Espanyol
| Pos | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | |
| DEF | |
| DEF | |
| DEF | |
| DEF | |
| MID | |
| MID | |
| MID | |
| FWD | |
| FWD | |
| FWD |
League Table after the game
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Villarreal | 23 | 14 | 3 | 6 | 44 | 26 | +18 | 45 | L L D W L |
| 6 | Espanyol | 24 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 29 | 33 | -4 | 35 | L L L L D |
Last Games
La Liga
Gameweek 23
What is GAP?
What is Plus Minus Goals (G±)?
Plus Minus Goals (G±) is the average goal difference per game while the player was on the pitch. A value above 0 indicates that the team rather wins, a value below 0 means his team concedes more goals than they score when the player is on the pitch. As an example, if the player's team is winning 3:1 the goal difference is +2, if the player's team is loosing 0:1, the goal difference is -1. It is a pure metric which is barely adjusted for circumstances to purely show the goal difference.
What is GAP?
GAP (Game Advantage Percentage) shows the percentage gap between a player and the average league player. It answers the question: How much does a player improve or worsen a team's performance? It is based on high level game data with a focus on the impact on the goal difference (G±) from the last 50 games of a player. Besides that, GAP goes further and considers game context by involving data from the player and all other players who are at the same time on the pitch, no matter if teammates or opponents. Football GAP - the individual metric for team players.