Granada CF vs Villarreal prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2023-10-29 20:00.
Two of the most underwhelming teams of this La Liga (LL) season have been in search of redemption, squandering countless opportunities along the way. Granada are off to their second-worst ten-game start to a LL campaign of the last decade (W1, D3, L6), and Villarreal their equal-worst (W2, D3, L5). Granada started this round in the relegation zone after seven LL games without a win (D3, L4), though draws at home to top half clubs Betis (1-1) and Barcelona (2-2) should offer them some hope.
The trio of clubs to start this round in the bottom three are the only three without a clean sheet this season, so it’s clear where Granada’s biggest problems lie. Manager Paco LĂłpez’s desire for entertaining, intense football saw his side record more goals in the first ten LL rounds (15) than any other club outside the top six, but in return concede far more goals (25) than anyone else but AlmerĂa.
Villarreal’s fixtures have been comparatively tame, with their last six LL outings featuring three draws and three 2-1 results (W1, D3, L2). New boss Pacheta was already struggling to impress the fans after failing to immediately turn around their poor start, and the “concerned” manager was derided for an honest confession after a 1-1 draw at home to Alavés that he is “still looking for a (tactical) model that works”.
It was a second consecutive LL match where they failed to defeat a newly promoted club, following a 2-1 loss at home to a Las Palmas side who had lost their first four away games of the LL season prior to that, confirming that their next opposition certainly cannot be taken for granted. They missed the top four last term in part due to dropping points away from home where they shouldn’t have and things have deteriorated further since, with their LL win rate as pre-match away favourites since the start of 2022/23 standing at just 29% (W4, D4, L6).
Players to watch: Look for a late impact from Granada’s Myrto Uzuni, who has scored after half-time in three LL games this season. The postponement of Villarreal’s Europa League trip to Israel has kept Gerard Moreno fresh after goals in his two LL appearances.
Hot stat: Villarreal are the only LL club yet to record a half-time lead this LL season (D7, L3).