Leganés vs Villarreal prediction, H2H & Probable Line-ups – December 22, 2024
One of the matches of the 18th round of the Spanish championship will take place on Sunday at the Butarque Stadium, where Leganés will host Villarreal. Here’s a betting suggestion on the total goals market with promising odds.
Match Preview
The suburban Madrid club pulled off a stunning upset last weekend. Borja Jiménez’s side visited La Liga leaders Barcelona and defied all expectations, securing a remarkable 1-0 victory over the Blaugrana.
Previously, Leganés suffered back-to-back heavy defeats at home, losing 0-3 to both Real Madrid and Real Sociedad. Additionally, they failed to beat relegation-battling Alavés on the road, ending with a 1-1 draw. Currently, Leganés sits in 15th place in the standings, holding a narrow three-point cushion above the relegation zone.
The "Yellow Submarine" failed to claim victory in their last outing, drawing 1-1 at home against Rayo Vallecano despite playing with ten men from the 32nd minute. This result extended Villarreal’s winless streak in La Liga to five games (three draws and two losses), leaving them six points adrift of the top positions. However, they still have a game in hand.
One major issue for Marcelino García's squad is their fragile defense, which has conceded 28 goals—one of the worst records in the league. Only Valladolid (34) and Espanyol (29) have conceded more.
Probable Lineups
- Leganés: Dmitrović; Saénz, Nastasić, Tapia; Alti, Cissé, Neyou, Franquesa; Raba, Haller, D. García
- Villarreal: Conde, Femenía, Albiol, Costa, Cardona, Comesaña, Guye, Parejo, Pepe, Barri, Baena
Match Facts and Head-to-Head
- Villarreal has beaten Leganés in four of their last five meetings but lost 1-2 at home in their most recent clash.
- The "Over 2.5 Goals" bet has won in four of the last five games between these teams.
- The "Both Teams to Score" bet has hit in three of their last five encounters.
Prediction
Bookmakers predict a slight edge for Villarreal, offering odds of 1.98 for an away victory. However, considering the form and defensive vulnerabilities of both teams, a safer and attractive option is "Both Teams to Score" with excellent odds of 1.87.
