Villarreal CF face Elche this Saturday 17 October in the ninth round of La Liga, targeting three key points at home. The match follows a morale-boosting 3-1 victory over Napoli in European competition on Tuesday 13 October, a result that has lifted spirits within the yellow squad. That win is part of a recent run of three wins and two losses in their last five matches across all competitions, a form they hope to continue.
Managed by Marcelino García Toral, the team currently sits 11th in the table with 8 points from two wins, two draws, and four defeats. The side finds itself 16 points behind leaders Barcelona, making each match key to improve their standing. Their top scorer this season is forward Pape Gueye, with three goals in eight appearances. The coach has emphasised the need to maintain the focus and intensity shown in their last outing. "The team's attitude was right and we must repeat it," Marcelino told reporters.
Elche arrive as the league's bottom side, with just one win to their name. In the last meeting between the two, on March 8, Villarreal secured a 2-1 home victory. The hosts will look to capitalise on their current attacking form, having scored 13 league goals, though they have conceded the same number. The full squad, aside from long-term injury absentees, is available for the manager.
The win over Napoli, with goals from Mikautadze, Mouriño, and Oluwaseyi, showed the team's fighting spirit. Previously in the league, the team fell 1-0 to Real Madrid on Saturday 10 October, but had secured a convincing 3-1 win over Levante and a 1-3 victory away at Malaga. The challenge now is to translate that effectiveness to the domestic league and start climbing the standings. The fixture against Elche presents a clear opportunity to gather momentum before the next international break. The match official appointed is Javier Alberola Rojas.
