Villarreal vs Real Oviedo Prediction: Yellow Submarine to sink newly-promoted visitors

Villarreal welcome Real Oviedo to Estadio de la Ceramica on Friday (20:30 BST, Premier Sports 1) as the new La Liga season gets underway in Spain. The Yellow Submarine finished fifth in Spain’s top flight last term and will be aiming to make the perfect start to the new campaign when they host newly promoted Oviedo.

Below are my Villarreal vs Oviedo predictions, alongside team news and odds.

Football Odds

Team News

Villarreal look set to be without defender Logan Costa for the long term and fellow centre-back Willy Kambwala until at least September. Otherwise, the Yellow Submarine have a fully fit squad to choose from.

Santiago Mourino is likely to make his full debut in defence with Alberto Moleiro set for his first start in attack.

Oviedo are without the suspended David Costas following his red card in the La Liga 2 play-offs, and Alvaro Lemos continues to be sidelined following a cruciate ligament injury last season.

Villarreal vs Real Oviedo Odds

Villarreal had an excellent campaign last season and are strong favourites to get this term off to a flying start.

The Yellow Submarine are 4/11, or a 73.3% chance, to win this game, with Oviedo priced at 17/2 for the victory. The draw can be back at 18/5.

Over 2.5 goals can be found at 10/11, while backing the home side to win by two goals or more is available for 11/10.

Villarreal -1 on handicap @ 11/10

The Yellow Submarine enjoyed an impressive campaign last time out, securing a fifth-place finish and a spot in this season’s Champions League.

Their home record was eye-catching, losing just twice in 19, and it was particularly good as the season drew to a close.

Four straight home wins, just one defeat at La Ceramica in 11 and six wins home and away on the bounce was a fine end to the season.

Newly promoted Oviedo had to go through the play-offs to seal a spot in La Liga and the step up in class with a tough trip to a Champions League side is a daunting prospect first match up.

Backing the home side to win by two or more goals would have paid out in all of the last three of Villareal’s home fixtures, as a result, this appeals for a clash against the favourites for relegation.

Over 2.5 total goals @ 10/11

Only Barcelona and Real Madrid outscored Villarreal last season, as they struck 71 goals in 38 matches. However, they were less solid at the back, conceding 51 and finishing with only the 11th-best defensive record across the season.

Villarreal’s matches were often high scoring, with an average of 3.21 goals per game, only surpassed by Barcelona’s 3.71. At La Ceramica, the average was 3.68 goals per match, with 74% of games seeing over 2.5 goals.

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