Villarreal CF face an exceptionally congested October, with seven matches in just 21 days. Iñigo Pérez's side, ninth in La Liga with 8 points, begin this marathon on October 10 at the Santiago Bernabéu against fourth-placed Real Madrid.
The schedule, confirmed this week, is as follows: after the Madrid trip, Villarreal host Napoli at La Cerámica on October 13 at 21:00. Three days later, on the 17th, they play at home against Elche at 16:15. The third week of the month is the most demanding, with a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool on the 20th and a derby at Mestalla against Valencia on the 24th at 18:30. The Copa del Rey enters the fray with a match against CE Manacor in late October, and the cycle closes on October 30 with RCD Espanyol's visit to La Cerámica.
A squad challenge
This match density was only surpassed last January, when the team, then coached by Marcelino, played seven matches. The same pattern of five league games and two Champions League fixtures is expected to repeat at the start of 2027. Manager Iñigo Pérez will recover all his international players just three days before the clash at the Bernabéu, complicating rest management and rotation for a squad looking to stabilise after an irregular start to the domestic campaign.
The team enters this stretch following a 5-1 win over Atlético Madrid last May, although their most recent meeting in August ended in a 2-2 draw. Forward P. Gueye, with three goals, is the top scorer this season. After the Espanyol match, PSG will visit La Cerámica just four days later, closing a decisive block before the winter break.
Background and full detail: plazadeportiva.valenciaplaza.com
