5 bold La Liga predictions: Atletico Madrid shock city rivals

2. Valladolid frustrate Villarreal

El Submarino Amarillo appear to have finally found their form after a poor start, with seven points in three games. Interestingly, both wins came away from home, so they are yet to win at the Estadio de la Ceramica. Their latest win was a 3-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao, but the deadlock was only broken by a stunning 40-yard volley from Pablo Fornals. This allowed them to absorb pressure and break on the counter, which won’t be the case against a defensive Valladolid side.

Valladolid are the least ambitious of the promoted sides. They prefer to hold out defensively rather than take the game to the opposition. Five goals conceded in five games is a decent record, especially when three came in the crazy draw with Celta Vigo.

Villarreal are solid defensively. They’ve conceded the fewest goals in the league with three. However, they have severe issues in front of goal with five goals scored and an xG of 6.67, per Understat.

None of their strikers has been able to score more than one goal so far, and they don’t lack in creative players with Santi Cazorla, Fornals and Nicola Sansone. The 4-4-2 set-up seems to be the issue because Javier Calleja has created a rigid structure which keeps games tight but limits them offensively, especially because they lack skilled wingers who can really stretch the opposition horizontally. Selling Samu Castillejo in the summer and not replacing him now looks like a really bad decision.

A negative approach from Valladolid should see them collect another point while also making Villarreal wait for their first home win of the season.