Spanish La Liga
2026-02-09 - Villarreal vs Espanyol
A Sports Betting Pick by Gladiator
Football: Spanish La Liga - Round 23
Estadio de la Ceramica (Villarreal), Spain
Monday, 9th February 2026 - Kick Off 21:00 CET
Villarreal
Villarreal enter this clash with a seven-point cushion inside the top four, yet their recent form has been anything but comfortable. A three-match winless run in La Liga forms part of a wider slump in which they’ve lost seven of their last ten games across all competitions. With European and Copa del Rey exits already behind them, securing Champions League qualification has become their sole priority. Marcelino will still take confidence from his side’s generally strong home form, but the fact that all three of their failed home wins this season came against fellow top-six sides is a warning they cannot ignore here.
Espanyol
Espanyol arrive in similarly worrying form, having taken just one point from their last five La Liga fixtures. Defensive fragility has been their undoing, conceding at least twice in all four of those defeats, and their place in the European race is now under real threat. They had previously been excellent on their travels, winning three consecutive away games, but that momentum has evaporated following disappointing results at Levante and Valencia. Monday nights have at least been kind to them historically, and they’ll need to lean on that if they’re to rediscover their spark.
Betting Verdict
Both sides are out of form, but Villarreal’s superior squad quality, strong motivation to protect their top-four spot, and dominant recent record against Espanyol make them the more trustworthy option. The visitors’ defensive issues on the road further suggest that even if this is a tight encounter, the home side is better placed to edge it.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Villarreal 1-0 Espanyol
