After finishing third in La Liga last season, Villarreal are failing to live up to those standards as they adjust to balancing UEFA Champions League commitments with domestic duties.
After 10 games, the Yellow Submarine sit 10th in La Liga with only three wins, but there is still plenty of time to turn things around.
Recent performances have been encouraging, suggesting better is in store as they chase a third straight victory when they welcome Espanyol to Estadio de la Ceramica.
Espanyol are in the relegation places with just eight points from 10 games, and they head to Villarreal winless in six and after suffering a shock Copa del Rey exit to fourth-tier outfit Sestao River on Tuesday.
That 4-3 loss after extra time led to the sacking of manager Manolo Gonzalez, and they will hope the change helps them start heading in a different direction.
Villarreal v Espanyol Tips Summary
Best Bet - Villarreal to win & both teams to score @ 8/5
Alternative Bet - Georges Mikautadze first goalscorer @ 7/2
Bet Builder - Both teams to score, Georges Mikautadze to score & Alberto Moleiro to score or assist @ 16/5
Villarreal v Espanyol Prediction
Best Bet: Villarreal to win & both teams to score @ 8/5
Espanyol were dumped out of the Copa del Rey by fourth-tier side Sestao River on Tuesday, losing 4-3 after extra time, and that was the final straw for the board, which sacked Gonzalez.
It stretched Espanyol's winless run to six matches and they have picked up only one point from their last five league matches, leaving them in the relegation places.
The visitors have lost 2-1 in three of their five away league games, going down on trips to Real Sociedad, Rayo Vallecano and Racing Santander, and Villarreal should be licking their lips at the prospect of facing them while low on confidence.
Despite their early-season struggles, Inigo Perez's side is improving, and their only two defeats in their last eight fixtures came away at Liverpool and Real Madrid.
A 5-0 rout of Manacor in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday should have further boosted morale, following on from their 2-1 win at Valencia.
The Yellow Submarine have won two of their last three home games, recording 3-1 victories over Napoli in the UEFA Champions League and Levante in La Liga, and they have won their last seven meetings with Espanyol.
But Villarreal have kept only two clean sheets in 14 outings this season and rarely deal in shutouts.
Alternative Bet: Georges Mikautadze first goalscorer @ 7/2
Georgian international Georges Mikautadze scored 13 goals in 32 league appearances last season and he is already on course to at least emulate that tally, having netted three times in nine La Liga outings.
After scoring in UEFA Champions League clashes with Napoli and Liverpool, Mikautadze has notched in three of his last five appearances and broke the deadlock in last season's 4-1 home win over Espanyol.
Mikautadze has racked up 22 shots in 10 La Liga outings, hitting the target 12 times, and can pounce early against a leaky defence lacking belief.
Villarreal v Espanyol Bet Builder Tip
Both teams to score
Georges Mikautadze to score
Alberto Moleiro to score or assist
Pays 16/5
Villarreal should have too much for a vulnerable Espanyol but they have conceded in 12 of their 14 games this season and the sacking of the visitors' manager could spark an upturn in form.
Espanyol have seen both teams score in eight of their last 10 and the high-scoring trend should continue.
Mikautadze looks like Villarreal's main attacking threat and has scored four goals in his last six appearances.
Teammate Alberto Moleiro is their key creator and, having scored twice and got three assists in his last eight appearances, can play a starring role for the resurgent hosts.
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Key Match Stats
Villarreal have won their last seven meetings with Espanyol
Villarreal have conceded in 12 of their 14 games this season
Espanyol are winless in six, suffering five defeats
Both teams have scored in eight of Espanyol's last 10 matches
Both teams have scored in four of Villarreal's five home games this term
Villarreal have scored at least twice in five of their last seven meetings at home to Espanyol
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
