Villarreal go into Villarreal vs Deportivo La Coruna with just two points from their first three league games, a return that leaves them 15th in the live La Liga table. Deportivo La Coruna arrive unbeaten, with five points from three matches and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang already on three goals in three appearances.
Villarreal's slow start
Villarreal have won only one of their last five competitive matches, so this is not just a poor opening three-game spell. The league form is thin, the table position is low, and the pressure is already there before a ball is kicked.
There is a case for saying this is the kind of home game they need to take control of. Sports Mole backed a narrow Villarreal win, saying they "will view this match as the ideal chance to put three points on the board".
Deportivo's early edge
Deportivo's start has been steadier. They have five points from three league matches, and their 3-1 win over Valencia last time out showed they can carry a threat as well as stay unbeaten.
Aubameyang has been the obvious edge in that run. Three goals in three appearances is a sharp return, and Villarreal will have to deal with a forward who has settled quickly.
The head-to-head record is tight enough to keep this from feeling like a one-sided fixture. Deportivo lead it 13 wins to Villarreal's 12, with nine draws, although they have not beaten Villarreal since a 2-0 success in May 2016.
Next week, Villarreal's first Champions League league-phase opponent will be Borussia Dortmund, so they do not have much room for another flat night before that test arrives.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
