Villarreal CF aim to build on their Malaga win when they host Levante at La Cerámica this Saturday. The LaLiga matchday seven fixture comes after a week where the Yellow Submarine secured their first league victory of the season, ending a damaging run of four straight defeats.
The 1-3 win in Malaga, featuring a Pape Gueye brace and a goal from Alberto Moleiro, provided three key points. It lifted Villarreal to 15th place in the table with five points from a possible eighteen. The result offered relief after consecutive losses to Real Betis, Borussia Dortmund, Deportivo La Coruña and Alavés.
Manager Marcelino García Toral has had a week to work with a boosted squad morale. "The feeling after Malaga is much better, it was a game we needed to win by any means necessary," the coach explained in his pre-match press conference. The Asturian highlighted the importance of maintaining the intensity shown in the second half of that match.
Levante, this weekend's opponents, currently sit 16th, just one place below Villarreal in the standings. The Granotes arrive after a 1-1 draw with Celta Vigo and are seeking their first away win of the campaign. Recent history at La Cerámica favours the hosts, who haven't lost to Levante at home since the 2017-18 season.
For this clash, Marcelino will rely on this season's top scorer, Pape Gueye, who has three goals in six appearances. The Senegalese midfielder was decisive in Malaga with his two goals, including an 86th-minute penalty to seal the win. His partnership in the middle with Alberto Moleiro, who also scored last week, will be key to breaking down Levante.
The team must improve defensively, having conceded eleven goals in six matches, one more than they have scored. Solidarity at the back will be essential to aim for another three points and start climbing the table. Supporters can follow the team's progress on our stats page.
The Malaga win took Villarreal out of the direct relegation places, but the fight for survival remains the immediate focus. Sitting sixteen points behind leaders Barcelona, the priority is accumulating points against direct rivals. The next fixture after Levante is a trip to San Mamés to face Athletic Club, a match already listed on our fixtures calendar.
The match against Levante kicks off at 18:30 on Saturday at La Cerámica, with Villarreal CF targeting a second consecutive LaLiga victory.
