Six points separate Real Valladolid and Villarreal in La Liga as both clubs fight for top-flight survival. Villarreal are mired in the relegation zone with just 19 points of a possible 66 gained.
Valladolid are a mere two points above the bottom three and a loss on Friday night combined with results elsewhere could see them fall into the relegation pack.
Villarreal have spent five straight matchdays in the bottom three. The Yellow Submarine haven’t won since November 25th when they were victorious against Real Betis. Manager Javier Calleja, who was sacked in December before being re-hired in late January, has seen his team lose four of their last nine games while picking up five draws. Villarreal have not been good enough to win matches, but they have drawn 10 games this season, La Liga’s third most.
Sergio Gonzalez’s Valladolid have been inconsistent this term. The team strung together a tremendous four-game winning streak in September and October. However, Valladolid stumbled at the end of October and have only won twice since then. The team is coming off of a 4-0 loss La Liga bottom team Huesca last weekend. Things aren’t going well for Gonzalez at the moment.
The last six matches between Valladolid and Villarreal – dating back to 2009 – have seen the teams draw three games apiece. Prior to this season’s first meeting in September, Valladolid and Villarreal hadn’t met since 2014.
Friday night’s fixture between Valladolid and Villarreal will be low scoring. In 22 games this season, Villarreal have scored two or more goals just seven times. The Yellow Submarine have the fifth worst goals total this term with just 23 scored. Valladolid possess the worst goals record with just 19 goals. The team has only scored two or more goals in six matches this term.
Defence has kept both Spanish clubs within touching distance of top-flight survival. Villarreal have allowed 31 goals (-8-goal difference) while Valladolid have conceded 28 (-9-goal difference).
Next week Villarreal will continue their Europa League play against Sporting Lisbon. Playing in Europe is the last thing Calleja needs right now. With a last-32 tie on the horizon and a lack of scoring goals, Friday night’s game between Valladolid and Villarreal will end in a score draw. The La Liga match will see fewer than 2.5 goals as neither team can find the back of the net with regularity. The Jose Zorrilla Stadium will be without goalscoring fireworks once more.