Villarreal starts life under head coach Mikel Arteta this weekend with a home fixture against newcomer Huesca. The match schedules for Sunday at the Estadio de la Ceramica with kickoff at 4:30 pm.
Villareal finished their previous campaign with a fifth-place finish in La Liga. Their opponents battled their way to La Liga through the Segunda Division. It will prove an uphill task for the side to stay in the Spain top flight.
Unai Emery faced heavy criticism for his tenure over Paris Saint Germaine and Arsenal. However, his career is bad while managing to pick three consecutive Europa League wins with Sevilla. It remains a big question mark whether Emery can change the tides while taking over Sevilla.
He will build on a successive 2019-20 campaign led by Javier Calleja. The side faces three fixtures against lower oppositions before facing a big deal in the face of Barcelona. Failure to register wins in the opening fixtures will put Emery under heavy pressure.
Big blows to the side include the departures of Santi Cazorla and Andre-Frank. However, the side will cherish the arrival of Dani Parejo, Francis Coquelin, and Takefusa Kubo from Real Madrid.
Huesca will be enjoying their seventh season in La Liga. Their last 2018-19 season campaign was a forgettable one with the side managing to pull off only seven wins.
Villareal vs. Huesca Head to Head
Both sides have played six games against each other, with Villareal taking home two wins, with Huesca with one win. Here is a look at their previous encounters:
Home
Villareal 1-2 Levante
Villareal 2-0 Real Sociedad
V.L 1-2 Valencia
Villareal 2-3 Tenerife
V.L 3-1 FC Cartagena
Away
Huesca 3-0 CE Sabadell
Deportivo Alaves 1-2 Huesca
Espanyol 1-1 Huesca
Sporting Gijon 0-1 Huesca
Huesca 3-0 Numancia
Villareal Team News
Alberto Moreno recently picked up an injury last week and remained a doubt this week. Alfonso Pedraza will lead the left-back position for the side. It might see Kubo and Parejo earn their first debuts for the side. Coquelin might have to start on the bench.
Huesca Team News
The only injury concern for the side is defender Pablo Insua that stands as the only fitness concern. Defender Pablo Maffeo joined on loan from Manchester City, which could lead the left-back position.
Prediction and Odds
Huesca will be striving to make an excellent first impression on their opening weekend, but we expect a win for Villareal.
Villareal Win
Goals Over 1.5
Away Score: No Goal
