Image source: Alamy Stock Photo
2025-26 Spanish La Liga
Matchday 18
Elche v Villarreal
Estadio Martinez Valero
Elche, Spain
Saturday, 3 January 2026
Kick-off is at 19h30
Villarreal will be aiming to bounce back from their first La Liga defeat in two months when they face Elche at the Estadio Martinez Valero on Saturday, January 3.
The Yellow Submarine enjoyed an impressive first half of the season, making their best-ever start in the Spanish top flight by winning 11 of their opening 15 matches.
However, Marcelino's side saw a six-game winning streak come to an end with a 2-0 reverse to league leaders Barcelona in their final fixture of 2025, which pushed them down to fourth spot, two points behind Atletico Madrid.
Image source: Alamy Stock Photo
Barca and Real Madrid have started to pull away from the rest of the top four in recent weeks, finishing the year nine and five points clear of third-placed Los Colchoneros respectively.
Los Franjiverdes closed out 2025 with a bang after they hammered Rayo Vallecano 4-0 on December 21 to register their biggest victory of the campaign.
It was the perfect response after Eder Sarabia's side had been beaten 3-1 by Real Mallorca on December 13 and failed to win any of their four games in November.
A second win in three outings lifted the Alicante outfit up to ninth position and they now have a positive goal difference of plus-four thanks to their big win over the Red Sashes.
Marcelino was full of praise for his team after they took the fight to the Blaugrana despite playing with just 10 men for the final 51 minutes following the dismissal of Renato Veiga in the first half.
"We played a great match and I'm very proud of how the team competed against FC Barcelona," he said.
"We had practically the same number of chances as them and made the opposing goalkeeper the best player of the match. All of this with one man less. We played a fantastic game 11 against 10.
"It's not normal to create so many chances against Barca as we did today. They capitalised on a penalty, and it's a real shame. I'm more proud than sad, but we can learn from the sending-off and improve. Let's not dwell on what would have happened with 11 against 11."
Head-to-Head (Last Five La Liga Meetings)
Matches - 5
Elche wins - 2
Villarreal wins - 2
Draws - 1
La Liga Matchday 18 fixtures:
Friday, January 2
22h00: Rayo Vallecano v Getafe
Saturday, January 3
15h00: Celta Vigo v Valencia
17h15: Osasuna v Athletic Bilbao
19h30: Elche v Villarreal
22h00: Espanyol v Barcelona
Sunday, January 4
15h00: Sevilla v Levante
17h15: Real Madrid v Real Betis
19h30: Alaves v Real Oviedo
19h30: Real Mallorca v Girona
22h00: Real Sociedad v Atletico Madrid
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