Two teams will be getting back to action in the La Liga action on Sunday when Elche will host Villarreal at the Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero.
Elche are currently 16th in the table having collected 19 points from 20 games, while Villarreal are eighth with 29 points from their opening 20 matches.
The hosts have won four, drawn seven and lost nine of their 20 La Liga matches this season to collect 19 points, just two points clear of the relegation zone.
However, Elche enter this game on a three-game unbeaten run , having picked up four points from their last two league matches, and they defeated Almeria in the Copa del Rey.
Los Franjiverdes will take on Real Madrid in back-to-back games after this contest, hosting Los Blancos in the Copa del Rey on January 18 before travelling to Bernabeu in the league next weekend.
Elche are still entangled in the relegation battle in La Liga and will be keen on not losing this match, as two of their next four are away to Real Madrid and Sevilla.
Villarreal exited the Copa del Rey earlier this month when they were defeated by Sporting Gijon, but they are still competing on two fronts, having advanced to the knockout round of the Champions League.
They have been in an impressive form in the league, winning four of their last five matches to move to 8th in the table, just four points behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid.
Unai Emery’s side played out a 2-2 draw with Atletico Madrid in their last league match, where Alberto Moreno and Pau Torres scored for the home side at Estadio de la Ceramica.
Villarreal took a 4-1 victory over Elche earlier this season, but they shared points in a 2-2 draw when they met in the corrsponding fixture last season.
Elche vs Villarreal head to head
The two teams have previously met on 17 occasions in all competitions, where Villarreal have taken 6 victories while Elche have won 3, and they have drawn in 8. Villarreal have scored 23 goals and conceded 17. In their last five encounters, Villarreal have won two and they have drawn in three.
Elche 2-2 Villarreal 03/01/15
Villarreal 1-0 Elche 10/05/15
Villarreal 0-0 Elche 06/12/20
Elche 2-2 Villarreal 06/02/21
Villarreal 4-1 Elche 22/09/21
Elche latest home form
Elche have recently failed to keep a good record at home, as they have won just one of their five most recent matches. They drew 0-0 with Granada in their last game. In their last five, they have won one, drawn two and lost two, scoring 6 goals and conceding 8.
Elche 2-2 Espanyol 23/10/21
Elche 1-2 Real Madrid 30/10/21
Elche 0-3 Real Betis 21/11/21
Elche 3-1 Cadiz 05/12/21
Elche 0-0 Granada 02/01/22
Elche latest away form
Elche have recently been on a relatively good form on the road, as they have won three of their five most recent away form. They recently defeated Almeria 2-1 in the Copa del Rey competition. In their last five, they have scored 8 goals and conceded 7 in the process.
Valencia 2-1 Elche 11/12/21
Unionistas de Salamanca 0-1 Elche 15/12/21
Barcelona 3-2 Elche 18/12/21
Almeria 1-2 Elche 06/01/22
Espanyol 1-2 Elche 10/01/22
Villarreal latest home form
Villarreal have recently kept a good form at home, having not lost in their last four matches. Their last home defeat came on November 27 when they lost 3-1 to Barcelona. They have won three of their last five matches and they drew 2-2 with Atletico Madrid in their last.
Villarreal 1-3 Barcelona 27/11/21
Villarreal 2-0 Rayo Vallecano 12/12/21
Villarreal 5-2 Alaves 21/12/21
Villarreal 5-0 Levante 03/01/22/
Villarreal 2-2 Atletico Madrid 09/01/22
Villarreal latest away form
Villarreal lost their last away game 2-1 to Sporting Gijon in the Copa del Rey. However, they have been on a relatively good form on the road, having won three of their last five games. Their last league away defeat came on December 4 when they lost 1-0 to Sevilla.
Sevilla 1-0 Villarreal 04/12/21
Atalanta 2-3 Villarreal 09/12/21
Sanluqueno 1-7 Villarreal 15/12/21
Real Sociedad 1-3 Villarreal 18/12/21
Sporting Gijon 2-1 Villarreal 06/01/22
Elche news
Elche’s Kiko Casilla, Lucas Boye, Pedro Bigas and Gonzalo Verdu will face late fitness tests, with Boye’s possible return could see Guido Carrillo drop down to the bench.
Winger Pere Milla is likely to feature, while they will welcome back Fidel and Diego Gonzalez into the starting XI on Sunday.
Villarreal news
Villarreal will be missing Ruben Pena, Francis Coquelin and Paco Alcacer through injury, while Arnaut Danjuma remains a fitness doubt.
They will also miss Aissa Mandi, Boulaye Dia, Serge Aurier and Samuel Chukwueze who are participating in the Africa Cup of Nations, while Gerard Moreno will again lead the line.
Prediction and odds
Elche have recently shown some improvement in their form, but Villarreal are currently on a roll in the league. We could see the game possibly go either way, but with the quality that Villarreal have, they are capable of winning. We see the game end in a draw or away win.
Odds: 1 2.98 X 2.50 2 1.98
Probable outcomes
Elche 0-1 Villarreal
Elche 1-2 Villarreal
Elche 0-0 Villarreal
Elche 1-1 Villarreal
Elche 2-3 Villarreal
