Villarreal - Elche

Villarreal head into this matchday 9 fixture on 17 October 2026 looking to build on a high-scoring Champions League victory over SSC Napoli. Their domestic campaign has been marked by inconsistency, recently suffering a narrow defeat to Real Madrid after a run of mixed results in LaLiga. Meanwhile, Elche arrive seeking stability following a goalless draw with Celta Vigo. Their path has been difficult, with a challenging sequence of fixtures that included a hard-fought win against Espanyol, though they have struggled to find defensive consistency throughout the opening weeks of the season.

As the teams prepare to face off at Estadio de la Ceramica, Villarreal will be without the injured Nicolas Pepe and Tajon Buchanan. The expected XI for the hosts features Ayoze Perez leading the line, while Elche look to Fer Nino to provide a threat. Their most recent meeting in LaLiga on 8 March 2026 saw Villarreal secure a 2-1 victory, a result they will aim to replicate to climb the table.