Match Report
Elche, 15th on 43 points, faced a 29-point deficit to Villarreal (3rd, 72). Villarreal ranked just 10th in the league on five-round form despite their 3rd table position. Scoring rates set the scale: Villarreal 1.89 scored and 1.21 conceded per game, Elche 1.29 and 1.5, with the league averaging 1.35.
Elche had gone 10 games without a win. From the last five rounds, Villarreal held 9 points of 15 and Elche 2.
Across 15 recorded meetings, Villarreal have 6 wins to Elche's 4, with 5 draws, at 2.73 goals per meeting. Home advantage has meant little here: 40% of the meetings went to the host. Where history says 2.73 goals per meeting, the last five say 3.6.
Estadio de la Cerámica staged the fixture, a ground that holds 23,500. Half-time and full-time told different stories: Villarreal led 2-0 at the break, before 1 more goal closed it at 2-1.
Goal scorers
Villarreal: Tajon Buchanan (31'), Santiago Mouriño (41') · Elche: André Silva (82')
Key stats
Possession: Villarreal 37% · Elche 63% · Total shots: 16-13 · On target: 7-6 · Corners: 4-6