Villarreal CF travels to face Deportivo Alaves this Friday, August 28, in Matchday 3 of the 2026-27 La Liga season, as reported by Athlonsports.com. The match at Estadio de Mendizorroza sees the Yellow Submarine aiming for a first win after starting the campaign with two consecutive draws.

Managed by Marcelino García Toral, Villarreal arrives at this fixture sitting 12th in the table with 2 points from 3 games, a record of 0 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss. Their recent form reads LDD, having scored 4 goals and conceded 5 for a -1 goal difference. The league leaders happen to be Alaves, the very opponent Villarreal CF will try to close a 5-point gap against.

What is Villarreal's predicted lineup?

The North American outlet Athlonsports.com predicts a starting eleven with Luiz Junior in goal. The defense would consist of Santiago Mourino, Juan Foyth, and Renato Veiga. Carlos Romero and Pape Gueye could form the double pivot in central midfield. Further forward, Santi Comesana, Nicolas Pepe, and Alberto Moleiro would support the attacking duo of Ayoze Pérez and George Mikautadze.

This lineup seeks a balance between defensive solidity and attacking threat following the two initial 2-2 draws against Racing Santander and Atlético Madrid. The team needs to find greater defensive consistency to turn draws into wins, a key requirement for climbing the standings.

Where and how to watch Alaves vs Villarreal CF?

The match has extensive international television coverage. In Spain, broadcast is via DAZN LaLiga, the DAZN App, and LaLiga TV Bar, kicking off at 9:30 PM. In the United Kingdom, it's on Premier Sports and Disney+ Premium at 8:30 PM. For fans in the United States, options are ESPN platforms and ESPN Select, with a 3:30 PM ET start time.

Coverage is similarly broad in other territories. In Canada on TSN and TSN+ (3:30 PM in Toronto), in Australia on beIN Sports and beIN SPORTS CONNECT, and in countries like Germany, Italy, or Japan also via DAZN. In South Africa, it will air on SuperSport and in India it will be available for streaming on FanCode.

What context does Villarreal bring to the match?

The season began with two identical results for the Yellow Submarine. First was a 2-2 draw against newly-promoted Racing Santander at the Estadio de la Cerámica. A week later, the same scoreline repeated in a high-voltage clash with Atlético Madrid. These results leave the team with a sense of dropped points, especially at home.

The squad, which you can review on our squad page, shows a block with potential that still needs to fine-tune details. Effectiveness in both boxes is the main challenge. With 4 goals scored, the attack has room for improvement, while conceding 5 in three games indicates work is needed at the back.

What does this match mean for the season?

Facing the league leader early in the competition is both a stern test and an opportunity. A positive result in Vitoria would not only deliver the first three points but also send a message of strength to the rest of La Liga. Furthermore, it would allow Villarreal CF to close in on the top positions before a run of important fixtures.

After the Alaves match, the schedule brings Villarreal back to the Cerámica. The next fixture, according to our fixtures page, is on September 5 against Deportivo La Coruna, who are 11th in the table. A direct rival in the fight for European positions will visit the yellow fortress. A good result at Mendizorroza would provide a key morale boost ahead of that encounter and the rest of September.