Getting closer to the top teams is at stake when these two mid-table clubs battle it out. Both will be aiming to improve their league table standing, Athletic Club in 11th and Villarreal in 7th place.
We should expect both teams to be fresh and ready for this match, as there is some time since both teams last played. Let's have a look at how the teams are doing!
Athletic Club form and stats
When playing at home in the La Liga, Athletic Club have managed 6 wins, 3 draws and suffered 3 defeats from 12 games. The home team are struggling everywhere these days as they haven't won a league-game, regardless of being the home or the away team, in ten attempts. Two defeats in a row at home hurts for Athletic Club, their manager G. Garitano Aguirre and the supporters. There are certain expectations for improvement.
Athletic Club are hoping to put things right at home after a defeat in their previous match, the score 1-2 away versus Deportivo Alavés. Before that game, the home loss against Osasuna with the scoreline 0-1.
Heartbreak for Athletic Club in their last match as Deportivo Alavés's R. Ely scored the winning goal deep into overtime.
This is expected to be a close game, with Athletic Club perhaps considered small favourites due to their home advantage. Looking back at earlier matches similar to this one (expected to be close with Athletic Club as a small favourite), we find five games. Athletic Club has won two of these, drawn one and lost two.
There will be little rest for Athletic Club after this match as they are travelling to Granada for a Copa Del Rey game in only four days.
Athletic Club are certainly not overdoing their scoring at home in league matches, having created 14 goals in 12 games. From these home matches, Athletic Club have conceded only 7 goals.
Villarreal form and stats
As the visiting team in La Liga matches, Villarreal have produced an overall stat of 5-1-7 so far.
Villarreal are travelling again after losing away to Atletico Madrid in their previous match (1-3). A home win before that, celebrating 2-1 vs Levante.
It's a bit worrying for Villarreal that their goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo made six saves in the Atletico Madrid game last time out, but still couldn''t prevent the loss.
So, this is expected to be a close game, an even contest. Looking at earlier matches with Villarreal playing away and similar expectations, we found six relevant matches. Results were three Villarreal wins, zero draws and three defeats.
Scoring goals is the main ingredient in creating success in football, and not only at home. So far Villarreal have scored 18 goals in 13 league games away. In the opposite end, Villarreal have conceded 20 goals in their away games.
Head 2 Head
Villarreal - Athletic Club 0-0 was the story when these teams last met, earlier this season. Head-to-head totals (for the last ten meetings): Athletic Club won four games, four matches ended with a draw and Villarreal has two wins. Over 2,5 goals / under 2,5 goals: four / sixTop Goalscorers
  G. Moreno Balaguero 10 goals |  S. Cazorla González 8 goals |   R. García Escudero 7 goals |
Athletic Club missing players
Villarreal missing players
| Athletic Club | Villarreal | ||||||
| Total | Home | vs | Statistics | Stat | vs | Away | Total |
| 25 | 12 | 4 | Played | P | 3 | 13 | 25 |
| 7 | 6 | 2 | Won | W | 0 | 5 | 11 |
| 10 | 3 | 0 | Drew | D | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| 8 | 3 | 2 | Lost | L | 3 | 7 | 9 |
| 24 | 14 | 4 | Scored | S | 3 | 18 | 43 |
| 22 | 7 | 3 | Conceded | C | 6 | 20 | 35 |
| 84% | 92% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 100% | 92% |
| 68% | 67% | 50% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 100% | 92% | 84% |
| 24% | 17% | 25% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 100% | 85% | 76% |
| 4% | 0% | 0% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 0% | 15% | 32% |
| 4% | 0% | 0% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 0% | 0% | 12% |
| 44% | 25% | 25% | BTTS | BTTS | 100% | 85% | 76% |
| 36% | 50% | 25% | Clean Sheets | C S | 0% | 15% | 24% |
| 36% | 33% | 50% | Failed to Score | F T | 0% | 0% | 8% |
| 5 | 5.2 | 6.2 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 5.3 | 3.9 | 4.3 |
| 4.2 | 3.5 | 3 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 7 | 6.8 | 6.6 |
| 2.4 | 2.4 | 3.5 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 2 | 1.9 | 2 |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 290 | 173 | 65 | Total Shots | T S | 57 | 170 | 348 |
| 89 | 57 | 23 | Shots on Target | S O | 16 | 52 | 114 |
| 27% | 25% | 17% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 19% | 35% | 38% |
- Athletic Club is in the worst form (0-2-4)
- Villarreal have played more matches over 2,5 goals away than home.
- Villarreal have scored in all their away matches so far.
- Villarreal haven’t played a single 0-0 game away.
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Barcelona | 25 | 17 | 4 | 4 | 62 | 29 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 12 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 18 | 17 | 33 | 55 |
| 2 | Real Madrid | 25 | 15 | 8 | 2 | 46 | 17 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 25 | 9 | 13 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 21 | 8 | 29 | 53 |
| 3 | Real Sociedad | 25 | 13 | 4 | 8 | 43 | 31 | 13 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 27 | 12 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 16 | 19 | 12 | 43 |
| 4 | Atletico Madrid | 25 | 11 | 10 | 4 | 28 | 18 | 13 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 18 | 7 | 12 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 43 |
| 5 | Sevilla | 25 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 34 | 25 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 16 | 11 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 18 | 14 | 9 | 43 |
| 6 | Getafe | 25 | 12 | 6 | 7 | 36 | 25 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 21 | 13 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 42 |
| 7 | Villarreal | 25 | 11 | 5 | 9 | 43 | 35 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 25 | 15 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 18 | 20 | 8 | 38 |
| 8 | Valencia | 25 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 35 | 37 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 21 | 11 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 14 | 26 | -2 | 38 |
| 9 | Granada | 25 | 11 | 3 | 11 | 32 | 31 | 12 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 8 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 16 | 23 | 1 | 36 |
| 10 | Levante | 25 | 10 | 2 | 13 | 31 | 36 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 13 | 25 | -5 | 32 |
| 11 | Athletic Club | 25 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 24 | 22 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 7 | 13 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 2 | 31 |
| 12 | Osasuna | 25 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 31 | 35 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 19 | 20 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 15 | -4 | 31 |
| 13 | Real Betis | 25 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 35 | 40 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 25 | 20 | 12 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 20 | -5 | 30 |
| 14 | Deportivo Alavés | 25 | 8 | 6 | 11 | 27 | 35 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 17 | 10 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 25 | -8 | 30 |
| 15 | Real Valladolid | 26 | 6 | 11 | 9 | 22 | 29 | 12 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 13 | 9 | 14 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 20 | -7 | 29 |
| 16 | Celta de Vigo | 25 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 22 | 34 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 22 | -12 | 24 |
| 17 | SD Eibar | 24 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 22 | 37 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 21 | -15 | 24 |
| 18 | Mallorca | 25 | 6 | 4 | 15 | 26 | 42 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 10 | 29 | -16 | 22 |
| 19 | Leganés | 25 | 4 | 7 | 14 | 18 | 37 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 18 | 12 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 19 | -19 | 19 |
| 20 | Espanyol | 25 | 4 | 7 | 14 | 22 | 44 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 23 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 21 | -22 | 19 |