Espanyol Faces Offensive Juggernaut Villarreal Aiming for a Clean Sheet
Espanyol travels to Villarreal this Sunday, seeking to end a frustrating streak of conceding goals in their last ten league matches. The task ahead is daunting, as they face a Villarreal side that boasts the highest home goal tally in La Liga this season.
Villarreal’s Estadio de la Cerámica has witnessed an remarkable 29 goals in just 13 games, averaging a remarkable 2.2 goals per match. This surpasses even the goal-scoring prowess of giants like Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu and Sevilla at the Sánchez Pizjuán. Interestingly, Villarreal achieved this feat despite missing their star striker, Gerard Moreno, for seven of those matches due to injury.
Adding to Espanyol’s challenge is Villarreal’s diverse attacking threat. Six players have already notched over five goals this season, led by Arnaut Danjuma with 12. This contrasts sharply with Espanyol, where Raúl de tomás stands as the sole player with more than four goals. Ironically, de Tomás holds fond memories of the Cerámica, having made his Espanyol debut there with a goal and a victory in January 2020.
While Villarreal’s offensive firepower is undeniable, they are not invincible at home. Six visiting teams have managed draws, three have secured victories, and eight have succumbed to defeat. Notably, all winning teams have scored at least two goals, highlighting the need for Espanyol to be clinical in attack if they hope to triumph.
Defensive Solidity: A priority for Espanyol
Espanyol’s recent defensive struggles are a cause for concern. After a solid start to the season, conceding only 14 goals in their first 15 games, they have leaked 21 in their last ten. This alarming trend has seen their goals conceded per game average jump from 0.9 to 2.1.
The shift in defensive vulnerability is particularly evident at their home ground, RCDE Stadium. While only 28% of goals conceded in the first 15 games came at home, this figure has risen to 60% in the subsequent ten matches.
Moreover,Espanyol’s vulnerability has shifted from the second half to the first. initially, 60% of goals conceded arrived after halftime, suggesting fatigue as a factor. However,since matchday 16,55% of goals have been conceded in the first half,indicating a need to address early-game defensive lapses.
Analysis reveals that Espanyol’s flanks are particularly susceptible. Twelve goals have resulted from attacks down the side defended by Pedrosa, while nine have come from the side patrolled by Óscar Gil and Aleix vidal.Coach Vicente Moreno acknowledges this weakness, stating that “most of the goals come from actions on the side, with crosses being a recurring threat.”
Despite these challenges, Espanyol remains relatively strong defending set pieces, conceding only two goals from penalties, one corner, and one free kick.
As Espanyol prepares to face Villarreal’s formidable attack, regaining defensive solidity will be paramount.A clean sheet at the cerámica would be a significant boost for their confidence and a crucial step towards reversing their recent defensive woes.
Espanyol’s Defensive Dilemma: A Chat with legendary Defender,Carlos Marchena
Espanyol’s upcoming clash against Villarreal is shaping up to be a real test of their defensive mettle. With the Yellow Submarine boasting La Liga’s highest home goal tally, Espanyol’s recent struggles at the back are a serious cause for concern.
To get a better understanding of the challenges Espanyol faces, we sat down with legendary Spanish defender, Carlos Marchena, who knows a thing or two about shutting down opposition attacks.
Moderator: Carlos, thanks for joining us. Espanyol’s recent defensive record is worrying – 21 goals conceded in their last ten games. What do you make of their troubles?
Carlos Marchena: It’s definitely a worrying trend. Espanyol started the season so well defensively, but something seems to have shifted. Conceding so many goals in quick succession raises questions about concentration and tactical discipline.
Moderator: You mentioned concentration. Espanyol’s coach, vicente Moreno, has highlighted their vulnerability in the first half of games recently. How crucial is starting strong defensively, especially againstUnderlying a team as potent as Villarreal?
Carlos Marchena: Starting strong is absolutely vital. villarreal can hurt you early, their attacking players are so sharp. Espanyol needs to weather that initial storm, be organized, and communicate effectively. Losing focus for even a few minutes can be costly against a team like theirs.
Moderator: Funnily enough, Raul de Tomás has good memories of the estadio de la Cerámica, scoring on his Espanyol debut there. But, with ESTRacks likely to come from Villarreal, do you think Espanyol need to be more pragmatic and focus on containing the threat, rather than chasing goals?
Carlos Marchena: Absolutely. De Tomás is a fantastic striker, but this match needs a more measured approach. Espanyol shouldn’t be open to chasing goals at the expense of defensive solidity. Keeping a clean sheet away to Villarreal would be a huge achievement and a much-needed confidence boost.
Moderator: the article highlights Espanyol’s vulnerability down the flanks, notably on their right side. How can they counter this, especially given Villarreal’s attacking width?
Carlos Marchena: Full backs need to be disciplined, not get caught out of position. The midfield needs to track back and provide cover, doubling up on Villarreal’s wingers. Crucially,espanyol’s wingers need to contribute defensively,not leaving their full-backs exposed.
Moderator: Espanyol seem to have a knack for conceding from crosses. Do you have any advice on how to better defend these situations?
Carlos Marchena: it’s all about winning those aerial battles, being aggressive, and communicating.The center-backs need to be strong in the air, anticipate the flight of the ball, and clear their lines decisively.
Moderator: Carlos, what’s your prediction for the game? Can Espanyol pull off an upset against this free-scoring villarreal side?
Carlos Marchena: It’s going to be a tough ask for Espanyol. Villarreal are in great form at home, but a clean sheet is achievable if Espanyol are organized and disciplined. They need to frustrate villarreal, make them work for every chance, and capitalize on any opportunities they create. It’s going to be a tight game, but I wouldn’t rule out a surprise from Espanyol.
What are your thoughts on Espanyol’s defensive issues? Can they shut down Villarreal’s attacking threat? Share your opinions in the comments!
