Villarreal vs Deportivo La Coruña: Prediction, Betting Tips and Match Preview

Villarreal enter the fourth round of La Liga still without a single win to their name, a surprising start for a side that usually competes for European places. Meanwhile, Deportivo La Coruña, back in the top flight after a long absence, remain unbeaten. The Galicians now face their toughest test yet this season, while the hosts have a tricky schedule ahead – just three days after this clash, they travel to Dortmund for the start of their Champions League campaign.

Tactical Analysis: Villarreal

The Yellow Submarine kicked off the championship with two identical 2‑2 draws, first against Racing Santander and then against Atlético Madrid. In the previous round, they suffered their first defeat, losing 0‑1 to Alavés – a result that hardly reflected their performance. Coach Iñigo Pérez’s side dominated possession (76%), fired off 19 shots, and generated 1.74 xG, yet failed to convert any of their chances. After the match, Pérez highlighted the lack of finishing, noting that enough opportunities were created. After three matchdays, Villarreal have only two points, though their underlying play has often been far better than the results suggest.

The transfer deadline passed quietly for the club, with no major changes to the squad. However, Pérez has one injury concern ahead of the fourth round: Juan Foyth picked up a muscle problem against Alavés and missed the start of preparations for Deportivo, so his availability remains uncertain. The calendar also plays a role – on 8 September, Villarreal face Borussia Dortmund away in the Champions League, leaving only three days between matches. With just two points from three games, rotating heavily for the league fixture would be risky, but some changes before the trip to Germany cannot be ruled out.

Tactical Analysis: Deportivo La Coruña

The blue‑and‑whites returned to La Liga after a long hiatus and immediately showed they can compete at this level. Antonio Hidalgo’s team began with draws against Elche (1‑1) and Málaga (1‑1), then claimed their first victory last round, beating Valencia 3‑1. The Galicians started that match explosively, leading 2‑0 by the 16th minute. However, two of their three goals came from own goals by the opposition, making the scoreline somewhat flattering relative to the overall play.

The standout performer so far has been Pierre‑Emerick Aubameyang. The Gabonese striker has scored in all three rounds, and Hidalgo has already called him a world‑class player and a “blessing” for the team. The coach is also making full use of his squad depth – 20 different players have already featured, with only six starting every match.

After the transfer window closed, Deportivo’s squad looks even stronger. On deadline day, the club loaned Marc Casado from Barcelona and José María Giménez from Atlético Madrid, both deals including buy options. A few days earlier, they also signed Adama Traoré, who returns to Spain after several years in England. The winger missed the Valencia match due to a minor injury. There is one guaranteed absence for the upcoming fixture: Adrià Altimira is suspended after picking up two yellow cards in the previous game. Notably, the midfielder started in the first two league matches.

Predicted Lineups

Villarreal (4‑4‑2): Luis Junior – Freeman, P. Navarro, Veiga, Romero – Pepe, Comesana, Geye, Moleiro – Moreno, Mikautadze.

• Out: Foyth (doubtful)
• Head coach: Iñigo Pérez

Deportivo La Coruña (4‑4‑2): Roman – J. Navarro, Nubi, Ede, Qualiata – Cruz, Soriano, Amatuchhi, Yeremay – Aubameyang, Nsongo.

• Out: Carrillo (injured), Altimira (suspended), Traoré, Giménez, Casado (all doubtful)
• Head coach: Antonio Hidalgo

Referee

The match will be officiated by Jesús Gil Manzano, one of the most experienced referees in Spanish football. Last La Liga season, he took charge of 18 matches, averaging 4.45 yellow cards per game. In the current campaign, he has already worked one fixture, showing five yellow cards. Gil Manzano tends to keep a firm grip on proceedings and does not hesitate to use his cards when necessary.

Prediction and Bet

Main prediction: Villarreal to win with a handicap of -1.5 at odds of 2.23

Villarreal’s results have been worse than their actual performances. They regularly create enough chances, and their only defeat came against Alavés (0‑1) in a match where they completely dominated and created enough for roughly two goals. Deportivo have collected their five points with a fair share of luck – for instance, in the victory over Valencia (3‑1), two of their goals were own goals by the opposition. Now the visitors face their first truly difficult away game since returning to La Liga. If the hosts improve their finishing, that should be enough at home against a newly promoted side to secure a comfortable win. Backing Villarreal with a -1.5 handicap at 2.23 looks appealing.

Bet on goals: Both teams to score – Yes at odds of 1.80

Deportivo have exchanged goals with their opponents in all three rounds so far. Villarreal only failed to score against Alavés, but even in that game they generated 1.74 xG, and in the first two matches they found the net twice each. Meanwhile, the Valencian defence has yet to keep a clean sheet, conceding in every match. Therefore, there are grounds to expect chances at both ends – the “both teams to score – yes” option at 1.80 is worth considering.