Valencia and Villarreal will renew their rivalry in the latest edition of the Derbi de la Comunitat. Both teams are struggling for points in the early stages of the La Liga season making the match vital for both to obtain points.
Los Che had started the season strongly, but punched above their weight in the top three. However, since those early days of the season, Jose Bordalas’s team has fallen down the table. Valencia currently sit 11th and have failed to win any of their last six league matches.
Scenes at Mestalla ✨ pic.twitter.com/EoM7Oih0UW— Valencia CF (@valenciacf_en) October 29, 2021
Scenes at Mestalla ✨ pic.twitter.com/EoM7Oih0UW
Villarreal have not cracked on from their Europa League win last May. The Yellow Submarine are currently in 13th place with 12 points from 30 on offer.
Unai Emery’s team has struggled to turn draws into wins this season. Villarreal lead La Liga in draws this term with six from 10 games.
Valencia are unbeaten in their last two matches at the Mestalla. Both fixtures ended in draws. Villarreal have failed to win all five of their away matches this season. The Yellow Submarine drew four times and lost one away match this term.
Villarreal have scored just three goals on the road and conceded four times. Last time out away from the Estadio de la Ceramica, Villarreal lost 2-1 to Athletic Bilbao.
The home team has won the last seven matches between Valencia and Villarreal in all competitions. Villarreal have not won at the Mestalla since the 2017-18 season. Since then, Villarreal has failed to win on their last seven trips to the Mestalla in all competitions.
Defender Gabriel Paulista is set to miss the game with a knee injury. Paulista is ruled out until November. Forward Maxi Gomez is a doubt due to a muscle injury. Defender Antonio Latorre is also a doubt due to a muscle strain.
Emery has two names on the injury list and they are important ones. Gerard Moreno is ruled out until mid-November with a hamstring injury. Defender Juan Foyth is also ruled out until mid-November with a hamstring.
Villarreal are led in league goals by forward Arnaut Danjuma. The former Bournemouth man has five goals in La Liga. Last season’s match at the Mestalla between these teams finished with two penalties being scored. Moreno and Carlos Soler scored the spot-kicks for Villarreal and Valencia respectively.
Saturday’s Derbi de la Comunitat and the Mestalla should see Villarreal pick up a seventh draw this season. Valencia’s last two home matches ended as stalemates and the trend should continue with a score draw.