Villarreal head into matchday seven in fine form, sitting in third in LaLiga with 13 points in six games and will be looking to keep the momentum going as they host fellow top five side Athletic Club at Estadi de la Ceràmica.
Athletic have been unpredictable this season, winning their first three league games before losing the next two and then drawing against Girona in midweek. Ernesto Valverde will want his team to gain more consistency and a positive result at high-flying Villarreal would be the right start.
That, though, will be easier said than done. The home side are the third highest scorers in the league (behind only Barcelona and Real Madrid, unsurprisingly) with 12 goals and have dug deep into their squad to get through a long injury list this early into the season. Winger Tajon Buchanan leads their scoring charts with three and his battle with Athletic fullback Yuri Berchiche will be one to keep an eye on.
Will Villarreal be able to maintain their winning form and keep the pressure on the big two? Will Athletic find a way to get their season up and running?
Here's everything you need to know about Saturday's game:
How to watch:
The match will be broadcast on Disney+ in the U.K., Watch ESPN in the United States, BeIN Sports in Australia, and FanCode in India. You can also follow ESPN's live updates.
Key Details:
Date: Saturday, September 27, 8:00 p.m. BST (3:00 p.m. ET; 12:30 a.m. IST Sunday and 5:00 a.m. AEST Sunday).
Venue: Estadi de la Ceràmica, Villarreal
Referee: TBC.
VAR: TBC.
Team news:
Villarreal
Logan Costa, D: ACL, OUT, est. return early April
Pau Cabanes, F: ACL, OUT, est. return early April
Gerard Moreno, F: Hamstring, OUT, est. return early October
Santi Comesana, M: muscle: OUT, est. return mid October
Juan Foyth, D, muscle: OUT, est. return late October
Ayoze Perez, F: Muscle, DOUBT
Willy Kambwala, D: Hamstring, DOUBT
Athletic Club
Unai Egiluz, D: OUT, ACL, est. return mid-Feb
Beñat Prados, M, OUT, ACL, est. return July 2026
Nico Williams, F/M, OUT, est. return late-Sept.
Expected Lineups:
Villarreal (4-4-2)
GK: Luiz Junior
RB: Santiago Mourino | CB: Renato Veiga | CB: Rafa Marin | LB: Sergi Cardona
RW: Tajon Buchanan | CM: Pape Gueye | CM: Thomas Partey | LW: Alberto Moleiro
CF: Nicolas Pepe | CF: Georges Mikautadze
Athletic Club (4-2-3-1)
GK: Unai Simón
RB: Jesús Areso | CB: Aitor Paredes | CB: Aymeric Laporte | LB: Yuri Berchiche
CM: Mikel Jauregizar | CM: Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta
RW: Iñaki Williams | CAM: Oihan Sancet | LW: Unai Gómez
CF: Gorka Guruzeta
Stats:
Buchanan is joint sixth in early stages of the Pichichi Trophy (golden boot) race, with three goals. Kylian Mbappe tops it with seven.
Sergi Cardona is joint sixth in the top assists chart, with two. Getafe's Luis Milla leads with four.
Over their last five matches, Villarreal are W1, D2, L2 against Athletic.
Latest news and analysis:
Thomas Partey: Ex-Arsenal star denies rape and assault charges
Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has pleaded not guilty to raping two women.
Valencia bounce back with win over 10-man Athletic
Dani Vivian was sent off just after the hour mark for bringing down Baptiste Santamaria when he was through on goal.