Preview: Villarreal vs Girona – prediction, team news

Villarreal will be aiming to make it successive victories at the start of their 2025-26 La Liga campaign when they welcome Girona to Estadio de la Ceramica on Sunday night.

The Yellow Submarine opened their season with a 2-0 win over newly-promoted Real Oviedo, while Girona suffered a 3-1 defeat to Rayo Vallecano in gameweek one of the new campaign.

Match preview

Villarreal finished fifth in La Liga last season, picking up 70 points from their 38 matches, which left them level on points with fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao, and they have qualified for the league phase of this season’s Champions League.

The Yellow Submarine will again be expecting to battle Athletic Bilbao for fourth this term, and Marcelino’s side made the perfect start to their 2025-26 season, beating Real Oviedo 2-0 on August 15 courtesy of goals from Karl Etta Eyong and Pape Gueye.

Villarreal have been active during this summer’s transfer window, with their biggest arrival in terms of a transfer fee proving to be Renato Veiga from Chelsea, while Alberto Moleiro, Santiago Mourino, Tajon Buchanan, Rafa Marin and Thomas Partey have also arrived to boost their squad.

Marcelino’s side only lost three times at home in La Liga last season, but they did draw seven matches in front of their own fans, and that will need to improve if the team are to finish in the top four.

Villarreal have won 11 of their previous 17 matches against Girona in all competitions, including a 1-0 victory when the two teams last locked horns in May 2025.

Girona, meanwhile, opened their season with a 3-1 home defeat to Rayo Vallecano; the Catalan side actually found themselves three goals behind at the interval, before Joel Roca scored a consolation in the second period.

Michel’s team finished 16th last season, which was a huge drop-off from 2023-24, when they were third and incredibly managed to qualify for the league phase of the Champions League.

It was always going to be difficult for the Catalan team to become regulars in the European spots, but they are enjoying their fifth straight season in the top flight, which has to be considered a success.

Girona have focused on quality rather than quantity during this summer’s transfer window, and four smart signings have been made in the shape of Hugo Rincon, Axel Witsel, Vitor Reis and Thomas Lemar.

Miguel Gutierrez has been their biggest departure, with the 24-year-old making the move to Napoli, and his absence will be felt considering his importance for the White and Reds in recent seasons.

Villarreal La Liga form:

W

Girona La Liga form:

L

Team News

Villarreal will be missing Logan Costa, Willy Kambwala and Gerard Moreno through injury on Sunday, while Ayoze Perez, Diego Conde and Denis Suarez remain doubts for the Yellow Submarine.

Eyong’s future is currently the subject of speculation, with Barcelona believed to be keen on signing the striker, but he remains with the Yellow Submarine, and the 21-year-old should continue in the side this weekend.

New signings Mourino and Buchanan are set to operate down the right for the home side, while there will also be another start for Nicolas Pepe, should Perez be ruled out of the match.

Veiga is also in contention to make his debut following his arrival from Chelsea.

As for Girona, Donny van de Beek and Abel Ruiz are out of the match due to injury problems.

Meanwhile, there will also have to be a change between the sticks, with Paulo Gazzaniga suspended following the red card that he picked up in the first half against Rayo last time out.

Vladyslav Krapyvtsov is in line to feature in goal, while there should be a spot at number 10 for Lemar, who is aiming to put his injury problems behind him to show his undoubted quality.

Villarreal possible starting lineup:

Junior; Mourino, Foyth, Marin, Cardona; Buchanan, Comesana, Gueye, Pino; Eyong, Pepe

Girona possible starting lineup:

Krapyvstov; Martinez, Reis, Lopez, Blind; Herrera, Solis; Tsygankov, Lemar, Roca; Stuani

We say: Villarreal 2-1 Girona

Girona are strong in the final third of the field, and we are expecting them to find the back of the net on Sunday. Villarreal have home advantage, though, and the Yellow Submarine should be able to navigate their way to all three points, even if they are missing some important players.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

ID:579866:1false2false3false: from db desktop :LenBod:collect6785:

No Data Analysis info

Previews by email