Las Palmasvs.Villarreal

Marcelino's side are currently fifth in the La Liga table, four points behind fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao, while Las Palmas are 15th, two points clear of the relegation zone in Spain's top flight.

Match preview

Las Palmas' winless run in all competitions stretched to five matches on Monday night, when they suffered a 2-1 defeat at Girona, with the result leaving them in 15th spot in the La Liga table, only two points clear of the relegation zone.

Diego Martinez's side have a record of six wins, five draws and 11 defeats from their 22 league matches this season, and they are level on 23 points with 16th-placed Leganes and 17th-placed Espanyol.

Pio Pio finished 16th in La Liga last season, and they are bidding to make it three straight campaigns at this level of football for the first time since 2018.

La Union Deportiva have picked up 13 points from their 11 home league matches during the 2024-25 campaign, but they will be welcoming a Villarreal outfit with the fifth-best away record, claiming 18 points from 11 games on their travels.

Las Palmas actually beat Villarreal 3-0 in the corresponding match between the two sides last term, but the Yellow Submarine recorded a 3-1 victory when the pair locked horns in the reverse game earlier this season.

Villarreal, meanwhile, were 5-1 winners over Real Valladolid in their last La Liga match, with five different players on the scoresheet, including Ayoze Perez, who is looking to put his recent injury problems behind him to lead a top-four charge.

Marcelino's side opened 2025 with a 1-0 defeat at Real Sociedad, but they have picked up seven points from their last three matches, beating Villarreal and Real Valladolid, scoring nine times in the process, either side of a 1-1 draw away to Atletico Madrid.

Villarreal are the third-highest goalscorers in La Liga this season, finding the back of the net on 44 occasions, but they have conceded 33, and their defensive record could end up costing them the chance to finish in the top four.

The Yellow Submarine have not finished fourth in Spain's top flight since 2015-16, so there is plenty on the line this term, and the fact that they do not have European football could give them the advantage over Europa League outfit Athletic Bilbao.

Villarreal have only won one of their last six matches on their travels in all competitions, but they picked up an excellent point away to second-placed Atletico in their last game on the road on January 25.

Las Palmas La Liga form:

D

W

L

L

D

L

Las Palmas form (all competitions):

W

L

L

L

D

L

Villarreal La Liga form:

D

W

L

W

D

W

Team News

Las Palmas will welcome Dario Essugo back into their squad following a suspension, but Jaime Mata is now unavailable due to the yellow card that he was handed after coming off the bench against Girona last time out.

Sandro Ramirez, Adnan Januzaj and Marvin Park all face late fitness tests, while Jose Campana is out with a hamstring issue.

Essugo is set to return to the middle of the Las Palmas midfield for this contest, but his introduction might be the only change, with on-loan Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Fabio Silva set to continue at the tip of the attack.

As for Villarreal, Alfonso Pedraza and Ilias Akhomach will be unavailable for selection due to long-term knee injuries, but the away side are otherwise in strong shape for their clash with Las Palmas.

Thierno Barry's goal off the bench against Real Valladolid could earn him a spot in the final third of the field, while there will be another start for Perez, who is the team's leading goalscorer this season with 12.

Alex Baena has been another impressive performer, coming up with five goals and five assists in 21 appearances, and the Spaniard will feature down the left, while Willy Kambwala should keep his spot in the middle of the defence.

Las Palmas possible starting lineup:

Cillessen; Pelmard, Suarez, McKenna, Marmol; Essugo, Munoz; Fuster, K Rodriguez, Moleiro; Silva

Villarreal possible starting lineup:

Conde; Femenia, Foyth, Kambwala, S Cardona; Pino, Gueye, Comesana, Baena; Barry, Perez

We say: Las Palmas 1-2 Villarreal

Villarreal have been in excellent form of late, and with Perez now back to full fitness, a push for the top four is in full flow. Las Palmas are certainly capable of picking up a positive result here, and we are backing them to score against a shaky defence, but Villarreal's quality in the forward areas should allow them to secure all three points.

Written by

Matt Law

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