Villarreal host Girona at Estadio de la Ceramica on Sunday night as they look to start the season with two straight wins in La Liga.
Summary: Villarreal kick off their home campaign aiming to build on a 2-0 opening win, while Girona seek improvement after a 3-1 defeat in gameweek one.
Villarreal at a glance
– Last season: Finished fifth with 70 points from 38 matches and qualified for the league phase of the Champions League.
– Start to 2025-26: Began with a 2-0 victory over Real Oviedo, courtesy of goals from Karl Etta Eyong and Pape Gueye.
– Transfers: The club has been active in the window, with Renato Veiga arriving from Chelsea as a high-profile addition, alongside Alberto Moleiro, Santiago Mourino, Tajon Buchanan, Rafa Marin and Thomas Partey.
– Home form: Won 11 of their 17 home league matches last season, but drew seven, underlining the need to maximise home exploits this term.
– Recent head-to-head vs Girona: Villarreal have won 11 of their previous 17 meetings across all competitions, including a 1-0 win in the most recent encounter in May 2025.
Girona in focus
– Start to 2025-26: Suffered a 3-1 home defeat to Rayo Vallecano. They were three goals down by half-time before Joel Roca reduced the deficit.
– Last season: Finished 16th, a drop from 3rd in 2023-24 when they reached the Champions League group stage.
– Summer signings: Strengthened with Hugo Rincon, Axel Witsel, Vitor Reis and Thomas Lemar. Miguel Gutierrez departed for Napoli.
– Challenge ahead: Sustaining a place among La Liga’s upper tier will require consistency given competition in the top half.
– Key absentees: Donny van de Beek and Abel Ruiz are unavailable due to injury.
– Goalkeeping change: Paulo Gazzaniga is suspended after a red card against Rayo Vallecano; Vladyslav Krapyvtsov steps in between the sticks.
– Possible lineup changes: Lemar is expected to slot in at number 10, with Donny van de Beek’s injury absence creating a potential reshuffle.
Team news
– Villarreal: Logan Costa, Willy Kambwala and Gerard Moreno are unavailable through injury. Ayoze Perez, Diego Conde and Denis Suarez remain doubts. Eyong, whose future has been linked with Barcelona, is expected to continue in the side. New signings Mourino and Buchanan are anticipated to operate down the right, and Nicolas Pepe could start if Perez is ruled out. Renato Veiga could make his Villarreal debut.
– Girona: Donny van de Beek and Abel Ruiz miss out through injury. Gazzaniga serves a suspension, with Krapyvtsov likely to start in goal. Lemar is set to feature in a more advanced role behind the striker.
Possible lineups
Villarreal: Junior; Mourino, Foyth, Marin, Cardona; Buchanan, Comesana, Gueye, Pino; Eyong, Pepe
Girona: Krapyvtsov; Martinez, Reis, Lopez, Blind; Herrera, Solis; Tsygankov, Lemar, Roca; Stuani
Predicted score: Villarreal 2-1 Girona
Reasoning: Girona were strong in the final third at times last season, but Villarreal’s home advantage and reinforcements could tilt this in favor of the Yellow Submarine. Eyong’s role and Veiga’s potential debut add attacking options, while Girona will need to adapt quickly without van de Beek, Ruiz and the suspended Gazzaniga.
Why this matters
– A win would give Villarreal momentum at the outset of the season and keep them within striking distance of the top four as they resume European duties.
– Girona face a tougher early test on the road as they try to balance new signings with ongoing integration, aiming to climb away from the lower mid-table region.
What to watch
– How quickly Villarreal’s new signings settle in, particularly Mourino, Buchanan and Veiga, and whether Eyong can continue his good early-season form.
– Lemar’s central role for Girona and whether the visitors can unlock Villarreal’s defence despite the absence of key players.
Overall: A competitive clash with Villarreal seeking to capitalize on home support and squad depth, while Girona look to translate their depth and quality into a positive result away from home. A narrow Villarreal victory seems a plausible outcome given the home advantage and their positive start to the campaign.