Valencia vs Villarreal

Estadio de Mestalla is the venue as Valencia and Villarreal go head-to-head in a potentially ‘make or break’ La Liga game for both sides, especially the visitors.

The timing of this Derbi de la Comunitat could not have been any worse for Valencia after a costly 2-1 defeat at fellow relegation rivals Cadiz at the weekend triggered dressing-room unrest at Mestalla. Not only did it put the brakes on Valencia’s two-match winning streak in La Liga but helped 18th-placed Espanyol reduce the gap to two points. Ruben Baraja’s men have blown hot and cold across their last three league outings on home turf (W1, D1, L1), casting further doubt on their bid to extend a four-match winning H2H home league run against Villarreal. On a more positive note, ‘Los Che’ halted their longest winless streak against Valencian opponents in La Liga since January 2008 (G5 D2 L3) by defeating Elche 2-0 on matchday 30.

As for Villarreal, back-to-back two-goal margin wins in the build-up to this trip have solidified their pursuit of European football for next season, even opening up an avenue into the Champions League group stages. But with only six games left, Quique Setien’s men face a race against time to bridge a five-point deficit on fourth-placed Real Sociedad. Taking the road may not bode well, considering they’ve lost their last four away local derbies in La Liga, which accounts for their worst run in such match-ups in their top-flight history. Against this backdrop, they’ve defeated Valencia twice in a row in La Liga, both times at home, and could make it three straight H2H wins in the top flight for only the third time. Three wins from their last four away league games (L1) should add to their confidence.