Villarreal players celebrate forward Roberto Soldado's opening goal against Real Madrid. (Photo : Getty Images)
Contending team Villarreal CF (11-4-3, 36 points) will look to extend its five-game winning streak against reeling squad Sporting Gijon (4-10-3, 15 points), who have lost five of its last six matches heading into the second half of the 2015-2016 La Liga season. The game will be held at the Estadio El Madrigal on Sunday, January 10.
Villarreal is coming off a 2-1 victory over a tough Deportivo La Coruna eleven at the Estadio Municipal de Riazor last Sunday, as per ESPN.
Team captain Bruno Soriano pulled off a brace at the 36th and 90th+5-minute marks, sandwiching the lone goal of Deportivo courtesy of Spanish winger Luis Alberto three minutes into the second half.
The win is El Submarino Amarillo's fifth straight, pushing them up to the fourth spot in the current league table.
Meanwhile, Sporting Gijon fell to lowly team Getafe, 1-2, at their home field of Estadio El Molinón on Monday, as reported by SkySports.
Sporting's Paraguayan striker Antonio Sanabria drew first blood in the match right at the 16th minute to give Abelardo Fernandez's side the early lead, but two late goals, at the 69th and 71st minutes, from El Geta's Cala and Pablo Sarabia erased Los Rojiblancos' lead to hand them their third straight loss.
Sporting is currently in the bottom three of the league standings tied on points with Rayo Vallecano and four points ahead of cellar-dweller Levante.
The predicted result is a 3-0 romp for Villarreal.
Villarreal starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Areola; Mario, Musacchio, Ruiz, Rukavina; dos Santos, Pina, Bruno, Suarez; Soldado, Bakambu
Sporting Gijon starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Cuellar; Hernandez, Mere, Espinosa, Lopez; Halilovic, Mascarell, Cases, Menendez; Guerrero, Sanabria
