Europe (UEFA)
Indonesia
Nigeria

Preview: Granada vs. Villarreal - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 17 June 2020, 10:43

Villarreal will be looking to make it three La Liga victories in a row when they travel to the Nuevo Estadio de Los Carmenes to face surprise package Granada on Friday night.

The Yellow Submarine have won their last two in the league to rise into seventh spot in the table, while Granada occupy ninth, just two points behind their opponents here.

Match preview

© Reuters

Promoted as Segunda Division runners-up last season, Granada have not finished higher than 15th in Spain's top flight since the 1973-74 campaign but are chasing a potential European spot this time around.

Indeed, a total of 42 points from 29 matches has left El Grana in ninth spot in the table, two points behind seventh-placed Villarreal and just four points off Atletico Madrid in sixth.

Diego Martinez 's side have only lost one of their last eight in the league, picking up four wins in the process to leave themselves comfortably in the top half of the division.

They recorded a 2-1 win over Getafe on their return to action after the lockdown period on June 12 before picking up a point away to Real Betis on Monday night.

© Reuters

Villarreal, meanwhile, have won both their matches since returning to action on June 13, first recording a 1-0 victory at Celta Vigo before beating Mallorca by the same scoreline on Tuesday night.

The Yellow Submarine entered the lockdown period off the back of three straight defeats but have picked up two important victories since to leave themselves in seventh position in the table.

As it stands, Javi Calleja 's side are only two points off sixth-placed Atletico and three behind Getafe in fifth, while they sit just three off fourth-placed Real Sociedad in the race for Champions League football.

Villarreal did not finish outside of the top six in La Liga between 2013 and 2018 but ended last season in 14th and will therefore be determined to claim a European spot this time around.

The two teams played out a 4-4 draw in the reverse game at the Estadio de la Ceramica back in August, while they also shared the points in a 1-1 draw when they last locked horns at the home of Granada in 2016.

Granada La Liga form: WWDDWD

Granada form: (all competitions) WDWDWD

Villarreal La Liga form: WLLLWW

Team News

© Reuters

Granada were without Colombian midfielder Yangel Herrera against Betis through suspension, but the 22-year-old is available for this match and should return to the XI.

The likes of Alvaro Vadillo, Alex Martinez and Angel Montoro remain doubts, though, while Quini and Neyder Lozano are definitely still on the sidelines through injury.

Carlos Fernandez 's goal against Betis should see him keep his spot in the final third at the expense of Roberto Soldado, while Antonio Puertas is also expected to retain his position.

As for Villarreal, key centre-back Pau Torres is suspended due to the yellow card that he picked up against Mallorca, while Bruno Soriano and Ramiro Funes Mori are still injured.

Vicente Iborra is back from suspension, though, and should return to the middle of the park.

Carlos Bacca 's goal last time out could see the Colombian retain his spot in the side, although Gerard Moreno is expected to return to the front three, potentially at Paco Alcacer 's expense.

Granada possible starting lineup:

Silva; Foulquier, Sanchez, Vallejo, Neva; Eteki, Herrera; Machis, Vito, Puertas; Fernandez

Villarreal possible starting lineup:

Asenjo; Gaspar, Albiol, Quintilla, Moreno; Cazorla, Iborra, Trigueros; Moreno, Bacca, Chukwueze

We say: Granada 1-1 Villarreal

Both of these sides will be eyeing a European finish in Spain's top flight, meaning that it is set to be a very interesting battle on Friday night. Both teams have been in good form since returning to action, and we are therefore finding it hard to separate them, ultimately backing a 1-1 draw.

Top News

28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Having been plunged into treacherous waters following a four-point deduction by the Premier League, Nottingham Forest welcome Crystal Palace to the City Ground for a bottom-half clash on Saturday afternoon. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has attempted to try to diffuse the hostility towards Raheem Sterling. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are set to be without at least nine players for Saturday's Premier League clash with Burnley at Stamford Bridge. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea will endeavour to boost their hopes of securing European football for next season when they welcome relegation-threatened Burnley to Stamford Bridge for a Premier League clash on Saturday afternoon. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea and Mauricio Pochettino have jointly revealed that there are five fresh fitness concerns ahead of Saturday's Premier League fixture against Burnley. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both back from the international break with securing a top-six finish on their mind, Napoli and Atalanta BC meet at Stadio Maradona on Saturday. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Bologna centre-back Jhon Lucumi during this summer's transfer window. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly been left 'angered' by Sevilla's use of Hannibal Mejbri. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly willing to sell Donny van de Beek for £8.6m during this summer's transfer window. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk St Johnstone square off against Dundee on Saturday afternoon searching for the win that may provide them with some breathing space above the relegation zone. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk St James' Park is the venue for the return of Premier League football after the international break, as Newcastle United and West Ham United seek to strengthen their top-seven chances on Saturday lunchtime. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Basement side Almeria will be bidding to make it back-to-back victories in Spain's top flight when they welcome Osasuna to Power Horse Stadium on Saturday afternoon. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Rangers play host to Hibernian on Saturday afternoon looking for the victory that will move them back to the top of the Scottish Premiership standings. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Motherwell play host to St Mirren on Saturday afternoon knowing that only a win will do if they want to retain hope of breaking into the top six of the Scottish Premiership standings before the cut-off. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Amid a time of tragedy and turmoil at the club, Fiorentina make their return to Serie A duty when AC Milan arrive at Stadio Artemio Franchi on Saturday. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both looking to build on positive results before the international break, Sheffield United and Fulham square off at Craven Cottage in Saturday's Premier League affair. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou could have Micky van de Ven back at his disposal for Saturday's Premier League showdown with Luton Town in North London. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A Tottenham Hotspur side intending to rise above a desired dotted line host a Luton Town outfit bidding to steer clear of dreaded dotted line in Saturday's Premier League showdown in North London. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur allegedly hold an interest in securing a reunion with Sporting Lisbon winger Marcus Edwards. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams promoted together last year resume contrasting Serie A campaigns on Saturday, as mid-table Genoa host 18th-placed Frosinone at Stadio Luigi Ferraris. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sevilla's battle to stay out of the La Liga relegation zone will continue on Saturday afternoon when they head to the Spanish capital to tackle Getafe. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag is sweating over the fitness of a quintet of doubts for Saturday evening's Premier League clash with Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal are allegedly assessing the capabilities of 10 different strikers ahead of the summer transfer window. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Saturday night's Premier League offering comes from the Gtech Community Stadium, as an under-performing Brentford host top-four outsiders Manchester United. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City winger Jack Grealish and Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford are reportedly not guaranteed to represent England at Euro 2024. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will be aiming to make it three straight wins in La Liga when they welcome Athletic Bilbao to Bernabeu on Sunday night. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will be aiming to make it three straight wins in La Liga when they welcome Athletic Bilbao to Bernabeu on Sunday night. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to further stretch their lead at the top of the Eredivisie table and take a step closer to the title, PSV Eindhoven will return from the international break with a trip to NEC on Saturday. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With their quadruple dreams now in the gutter, Liverpool will at least endeavour to strengthen their treble chances when Brighton & Hove Albion arrive at Anfield for Sunday's Premier League contest. 28 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk DC United can end a four-match winless run when they welcome CF Montreal to Audi Field in MLS action on Saturday in the US capital.