Villarreal vs RCD Espanyol Prediction and Betting Tips
La Liga · Saturday 31 October 2026 · updated 2026-10-26
Villarreal welcome RCD Espanyol to Estadio de la Cerámica in Villarreal in La Liga action on Saturday 31 October 2026.
Villarreal have played 10 matches in La Liga this season, scoring 1.5 and conceding 1.4 goals a game and winning 30% of them. At home they average 1.5 goals scored and 1.5 conceded over 4 matches, with a 33% win rate. RCD Espanyol have played 10 matches in La Liga this season, scoring 1.2 and conceding 1.4 goals a game and winning 20% of them. Away from home they average 1.2 goals scored and 1.4 conceded over 5 matches, with a 50% win rate.
On the bookmakers' prices, with their margin taken out, Villarreal are clear favourites at 63%, with the draw at 21% and RCD Espanyol at 16%.
The odds
Decimal odds; the percentages are the chances the prices imply once the bookmaker's margin (10.3% on this market) is taken out. The main Asian handicap is Villarreal -1.25 at 2.02, RCD Espanyol at 1.89. The main goals line is 3: over 1.85, under 2.03, which gives over 52%.
Villarreal: form and key numbers
In style Villarreal keep the ball, press high, take players on.
- Expected goals: 2.04 a match created, 1.21 conceded (goals minus xG: -5.4).
- Shots: 16.6 a match, 6.0 on target.
- Possession: 60.6% on average.
- Clean sheets: 10% of matches (100% at home).
- Both teams scored in 70% of their matches.
- Corners: 7.3 a match.
- Discipline: 2.0 yellow cards a match, 1.0 reds.
- Average Sportmonks player rating: 6.87.
RCD Espanyol: form and key numbers
In style RCD Espanyol play long and direct.
- Expected goals: 1.26 a match created, 1.34 conceded (goals minus xG: -0.6).
- Shots: 12.5 a match, 3.4 on target.
- Possession: 46.3% on average.
- Clean sheets: 20% of matches (50% away).
- Both teams scored in 70% of their matches.
- Corners: 2.5 a match.
- Discipline: 3.2 yellow cards a match, 1.0 reds.
- Average Sportmonks player rating: 6.74.
Villarreal vs RCD Espanyol: season averages side by side
| Villarreal | Per match | RCD Espanyol |
|---|---|---|
| 2.04 | Expected goals (xG) | 1.26 |
| 1.21 | xG conceded | 1.34 |
| 1.50 | Goals | 1.20 |
| 16.6 | Shots | 12.5 |
| 6.0 | Shots on target | 3.4 |
| 2.1 | Big chances missed | 0.8 |
| 68.5 | Pressure share % | 40.5 |
| 14.5 | Tackles | 16.3 |
| 10.9 | Fouls | 16.2 |
| 2.0 | Yellow cards | 3.2 |
Season averages per match from Sportmonks, over 10 and 10 measured matches.
Villarreal vs RCD Espanyol: head-to-head stats and key numbers
- Villarreal have won 4, drawn 0 and lost 0 of the last 4 meetings in our data.
- Goals in those games: Villarreal 9, RCD Espanyol 2 - 2.8 a match.
- The most recent meeting finished Villarreal 4-1 RCD Espanyol (February 9th 2026).
Head to head
In their last 4 meetings Villarreal won 4, drew 0 and lost 0.
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Feb 2026 | Villarreal | 4 – 1 | RCD Espanyol |
| 8 Nov 2025 | RCD Espanyol | 0 – 2 | Villarreal |
| 27 Apr 2025 | Villarreal | 1 – 0 | RCD Espanyol |
| 26 Sep 2024 | RCD Espanyol | 1 – 2 | Villarreal |
Players to watch
Villarreal
- Georges Mikautadze CF · Poacher · Moneyball Score 66 · Gets into scoring positions, Chance creator (top 10% of his position)
- Juan Foyth CB · Ball-playing centre-back · Moneyball Score 65 · Ball circulator, Blocks shots (top 12% of his position)
RCD Espanyol
- Edu Expósito CMF · Playmaker · Moneyball Score 63 · Chance creator, Creator (top 5% of his position)
- Unai Núñez CB · Stopper · Moneyball Score 58 · Long passer, Disciplined (top 19% of his position)
Scouting spotlight: Alberto Moleiro
Alberto Moleiro, 23 · Villarreal · LWF · Creative winger · Moneyball Score 74
Alberto Moleiro, 23, plays as a winger for Villarreal in La Liga. Strongest for his role in key passes and expected assists (est.). Weakest in fouls won. Moneyball Scout, the engine behind our Scouting Players Research, rates him against every winger in Europe's top five leagues - and this is what he does better than almost all of them.
Percentile against his position on each figure: 50 is the average winger, 90 the top tenth.
Positions he can play
- LW · Winger Natural, 74
- LM · Wide midfielder Natural, 71
- SS · Second striker Competent, 44
Where he is strongest
| Figure | His number | Better than |
|---|---|---|
| Key passes | 3.53 / 90 | 98% |
| Expected assists (est.) | 0.40 / 90 | 97% |
| Accurate crosses | 1.62 / 90 | 96% |
| Big chances created | 0.59 / 90 | 91% |
| Expected goals | 0.39 / 90 | 90% |
Roles he suits
- ★★★★★ Wide playmaker Wide midfielder
- ★★★★★ Creative winger Winger
- ★★★★ Link-up forward Second striker
Scout's notes: Chance creator, Creator, Crosser.
- What Alberto Moleiro is worth on the market, and the most a club should pay
- How many league points he would add to your club (Win-Rate Impact)
- The players who play like him, cheaper - the Replacement Finder
- His chemistry with your squad, his fit with your style, his projection by age
Open Alberto Moleiro's full file Moneyball Scout from $39 a month
Villarreal vs RCD Espanyol prediction
Villarreal should have more of the ball, with RCD Espanyol likely to sit in a compact block and look to break; Villarreal like to take players on; RCD Espanyol go long and direct. Moneyball's model expects about 2.8 goals - 1.74 for Villarreal and 1.08 for RCD Espanyol - with over 2.5 goals at 54% and both teams scoring at 55%. Villarreal have the stronger numbers, and we expect them to make home advantage count.
Prediction: Villarreal 2-1 RCD Espanyol
The full model, every line of this match, in the Match Centre
Villarreal vs RCD Espanyol betting tips
- Tip 1: Villarreal to win 63% on the bookmakers' prices, with their margin taken out
- Tip 2: Over 1.5 goals 2.82 goals expected; 2.5 is close to a coin toss (54%)
- Tip 3: Both teams to score: yes 55% by the model
- Tip 4: Over 3.5 cards the two sides average 7.2 cards a match between them
- Tip 5: Over 8.5 corners 9.8 corners a match between them
Statistical leanings from the data, not certainties. 18+ only, where betting is legal; never stake more than you can afford to lose.
Moneyball's pick
The Dixon-Coles and xG model prices every line of this match: the win, draw and loss probabilities, fair odds and the expected value of each handicap and goals line. The full analysis of this match is part of Moneyball Premium.
Open Villarreal vs RCD Espanyol in the Match Centre Follow it live
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Villarreal vs RCD Espanyol: questions and answers
When is Villarreal vs RCD Espanyol?
Villarreal vs RCD Espanyol is on Saturday 31 October 2026, in La Liga.
Where is Villarreal vs RCD Espanyol played?
At Estadio de la Cerámica, Villarreal, Villarreal's home ground.
Who will win Villarreal vs RCD Espanyol?
Villarreal are the favourites: Villarreal 63%, draw 21%, RCD Espanyol 16%. Our prediction is Villarreal 2-1 RCD Espanyol.
Who is the player to watch in Villarreal vs RCD Espanyol?
Alberto Moleiro of Villarreal: a creative winger with a Moneyball Score of 74 against every winger in Europe's top five leagues.
How many goals will there be in Villarreal vs RCD Espanyol?
Moneyball's model expects about 2.8 goals, with over 2.5 goals at 54%.
Tags
Moneyball Odds is a statistical analysis site, not a bookmaker. No model predicts football reliably. For readers aged 18 and over, where betting is legal.