Manchester City prepares to face Villarreal in an important Champions League match this Tuesday night. This encounter marks the third time the two clubs meet, following somewhat historical meetings. The previous meeting in 2011 saw City win thanks to a brace from Yaya Touré during their first visit to Estadio de la Cerámica.
Current Form Overview
Both teams head into this fixture with contrasting recent performances. Villarreal has started their La Liga season strongly but is currently without a win in two consecutive matches. They lost 3–1 to Real Madrid before managing a 2–2 draw against Real Betis.
Despite this, Villarreal remains in a commendable third place in La Liga, contributing to their confidence in the Champions League.
Villarreal’s Recent Matches
- Villarreal 2–2 Real Betis (18/10/25)
- Real Madrid 3–1 Villarreal (04/10/25)
- Villarreal 2–2 Juventus (01/10/25)
- Villarreal 1–0 Athletic Club (27/09/25)
Injury Concerns for Villarreal
Under the guidance of Marcelino, Villarreal adopts a disciplined 4-4-2 formation. However, they face several injury setbacks. Notably, Juan Foyth is sidelined, along with Willy Kambwala and Logan Costa. Renato Veiga, a former Chelsea player, is expected to anchor the defense.
Manchester City’s Recent Matches
- Man City 2–0 Everton (18/10/25)
- Brentford 0–1 Man City (05/10/25)
- Monaco 2–2 Man City (01/10/25)
- Man City 5–1 Burnley (27/09/25)
City’s Squad Updates
Pep Guardiola will lead a strong Manchester City squad to Spain, with key players like Erling Haaland leading the attack. Haaland has scored three goals in two European games but will carry additional pressure following a recent 2–2 draw against Monaco.
Rodri remains unavailable, so Nico González is likely to occupy the midfield. John Stones and Joško Gvardiol may be rotated into the defensive lineup.
Predicted Lineups
Villarreal (4-4-2)
- Tenas
- Mouriño, Marín, Veiga, Cardona
- Buchanan, Gueye, Parejo, Comesaña
- Pépé, Mikautadze
Manchester City (4-1-4-1)
- Donnarumma
- Lewis, Stones, Gvardiol, O’Reilly
- Nico
- Savinho, Foden, Cherki, Doku
- Haaland
Match Prediction
While Manchester City boasts a potent offensive, Villarreal is known for its resilience at home. The match is expected to be competitive, with Villarreal’s defensive organization likely posing challenges for the visitors. A draw seems plausible, and a scoreline of 1–1 is predicted for this Champions League clash.
