Some poor performances and poor results doomed Villarreal for much of this season, but a five-game unbeaten domestic streak represents their best run under Unai Emery. They travel to Elche Sunday seeking to close the gap on the European spots. Our sportsbook is offering a great range of markets and props for the Spanish top-flight league.
Villarreal: Strong and consistent
The visitors are sitting eight in the standings, with 29 points earned in 20 games. They won six of their previous eight games, entering this clash after a beautiful 2-2 draw against Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid. Villarreal are priced at -120 on the three-way moneyline according to the latest soccer odds.
Gerard Moreno is their most important player, expected to lead Villarreal’s attack against Elche. Since coming back from injury, he has eight goals in nine appearances, adding two assists. Last weekend, he offered an assist for Alberto Moreno, who’s enjoying the best moment of his career with the Yellow Submarine.
In his new position, Alberton Moreno has been more involved in the attacking play, arriving many times in the box and shining in front of the net. He has six goals this season across all competitions. The visitors are a scoring machine, with 28 goals in their previous eight games. Samuel Chukwueze and Serge Aurier are on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Striker Arnaut Danjuma has been out for a few weeks due to physical problems. Since the Champions League Atalanta in which he played a vital role, the attacker has been separated from the team due to discomfort in his right ankle.
Danjuma returned to full training this week, but he probably eases his way into the match against Elche.
Villarreal are just three points behind the European spots, and they will be eager to extend their form with a victory Sunday. They beat Elche, 4-1, in the reverse match, and once again we expect them to dominate the pace and impose their rhythm. That’s why we will include them in our soccer picks and parlays.
Elche: Struggling against the big names
Elche managed to save themselves from getting relegated last season. They finishing 17th with 36 points, just two points above the red zone by virtue of taking six points from their final two games. It’s no different so far this season. They’re sitting 16th with 19 points picked up in 20 games, just two above the danger zone.
Elche managed to beat Espanyol, 2-1, last weekend on the road, with their striker Pere Milla scoring a brace, However, it’s going to be very difficult for them to pull off the stunner against Villarreal.
Elche lost many of their games against the big names (Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona), but they managed to hold second-place Sevilla to a 1-1 draw at home in the first half of the season.
They haven’t fared well at home, winning just twice in nine games while scoring nine goals in the process. Elche are a defensive team, very organized at the back, always trying to score on the break or from set pieces. However, we don’t expect them to cope with Villarreal’s attacking firepower.
If you’re betting online and find Villarreal ML at -120 against a team like Elche, go all in and don’t look back. The festive period is over, but this is a late Christmas gift and we going to take it. Villarreal were very unlucky not to beat Atletico Madrid last weekend, but they should return to winning ways Sunday.
