Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the La Liga match.
In the last round, Las Palmas managed to break their three-game losing streak with a draw against Real Betis. Will they be able to repeat that success in an away match against solid Villarreal?
Villarreal
In the seventh round, Villarreal's players managed to redeem themselves in front of their fans after a heavy defeat to Barcelona (1:5), winning a thrilling encounter against Espanyol (2:1). Notably, since the start of the season, they have scored 14 goals with 12.1 xG and conceded 14 goals with 11.3 xGA. The team likes to attack but also allows their opponents to do the same. Additionally, in the last match, main central defender Raúl Albiol sustained an injury and will likely miss today's game, which will impact their defensive play.
Las Palmas
Despite the draw with Real Betis, the visitors remain at the bottom of the table. However, Las Palmas score more than many of their table opponents, with 8 goals and 7.5 xG. Their defence, though, has major issues, conceding 13 goals with 13.6 xGA, averaging almost two goals per game. The team has nothing to lose right now and needs to score points. Considering their defensive struggles, they'll need to focus on attacking.
Villarreal vs Las Palmas Prediction
These opponents played each other last season, with each match featuring three goals. Villarreal have only improved their attacking game since then, while Las Palmas have clearly gotten worse defensively. There's no choice here but to bet on the total over.
