Elche vs Villarreal prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2026-01-02 17:30.
[p]Elche begin 2026 by putting their unbeaten home league record on the line against a Villarreal side who are looking to cement their place in La Liga’s top four. [/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]Ending 2025 with an emphatic 4-0 win over Rayo Vallecano was the icing on the cake for Elche, who have enjoyed a tremendous return to La Liga, recording their strongest 17-game start to a top-flight season in this century and sit closer to the top six than the bottom three heading into 2026. Victorious in four of the last five games across all competitions (L1), Elche are seeking back-to-back league wins for the first time this season. Former Villarreal C boss Eder Sarabia looks best placed to do that at home with Elche, who sit alongside Barcelona and Atlético Madrid as the only remaining unbeaten home sides in La Liga (W5, D4). [/p]
[p]Despite sitting comfortably above their hosts after their strongest ever 16-game start to a La Liga season (W11, D2, L3), Villarreal travel here after ending 2025 with a disappointing 2-0 defeat against Barcelona which dented faint hopes of a title challenge. That was the Yellow Submarine’s third straight competitive defeat as they were beaten in both the Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League, leaving them with La Liga’s top-four charge as their sole focus in 2026. Marcelino’s men have only been beaten in the league by sides starting the round above them, and have won four of their five trips against lower-ranked sides this term (D1). [/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]The H2H record between these sides has been perfectly split in this decade (W2, D2, L2), although the home side on the day has won each of the last four meetings.[/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Elche scored the opening goal in all five of their league wins this season. [/p]
[p]Elche are the most fouled side in La Liga pre-round (246). [/p]
[p]No La Liga side has scored first and remained unbeaten in more games than Villarreal’s 12 (W10, D2). [/p]
[p]Nine of Villarreal’s 14 La Liga games won or lost this season came with 2+ goal margins.[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Elche’s top scorer Rafa Mir (G6) may be quietly confident here having played no side more often than Villarreal in his career without ever losing (W2, D6). Alberto Moleiro could set a new personal seasonal goal record with a seventh league strike for Villarreal – all six of his goals this term came after half-time, while the last three also arrived away from home. [/p]
[p]Héctor Fort is doubtful for Elche, while Villarreal’s Tajon Buchanan and Renato Veiga are suspended. [/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]Elche’s strong home form faces a tough challenge here, but we’re backing them to at least preserve their unbeaten record here by selecting the draw. [/p]
[p][i]Author: Matthew Billon[/i][/p]