MADRID (Interstat) — Villarreal CF will look to rebound from a heavy defeat when it hosts regional rival Elche in La Liga on Sunday, March 8, 2026, at Estadio de la Cerámica.

The Yellow Submarine, managed by Marcelino García Toral, is coming off a 4-1 road loss to Barcelona on Feb. 28. That result snapped a run of mixed form that included a 2-1 home win over Valencia on Feb. 22 and a 1-0 victory at Levante on Feb. 18. Villarreal holds the recent advantage in this fixture, having defeated Elche 3-1 on the road as recently as Jan. 3.

Elche, under manager Sebastián Beccacece, arrives after a gritty 2-2 home draw with Espanyol on March 1. That point extended a winless streak in league play to six matches (0-2-4) dating back to Jan. 23. Their last victory was a 4-0 rout of Rayo Vallecano on Dec. 21, 2025. Defense has been a persistent issue, with the team conceding multiple goals in five of its last seven league outings.

The match is a derby of the Valencian Community, adding intensity to the league standings. Villarreal will be heavily favored at home, where it has been strong this season, but must shore up a defense that was exposed by Barcelona. Key attackers like Alexander Sørloth and Yeremy Pino will be expected to lead the line.

Elche’s hopes likely rest on maintaining the resilience shown against Espanyol and capitalizing on any defensive lapses. Forward Pere Milla remains a constant threat.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, the projected final score is a 1-1 draw.

Following this match, Villarreal will travel to face Deportivo Alaves on Friday, March 13. Elche’s next contest is at home against Mallorca on Saturday, March 21.

Kickoff is scheduled for 4:15 p.m. local time (1515 GMT) in Villarreal.