Villarreal vs Espanyol preview - Yellow Submarine thrill Aguirre

Villarreal have been described as the "sensation of the season" so far by Espanyol coach Javier Aguirre ahead of Thursday's clash between the two Primera Division high-fliers at El Madrigal.

Villarreal have picked up 10 points from their opening five games since winning promotion back to the top flight and sit in fourth place.

Aguirre, whose side have also started well and like their opponents are still unbeaten with 10 points, said of the Yellow Submarine: "Without a doubt Villarreal are the sensation of the season, they have just come up from the second division and have caught everyone's attention with the start they have.

"They are a hard-working side, based around the same players that got them promoted and the same coach.

"They play positively, are dynamic in their movements and they are assured about how they want to play."

Aguirre's side have also been in impressive form, though, beating Valencia, Athletic Bilbao and Granada while drawing with Celta Vigo and Real Betis.

The former Mexico coach said of his team: "Our team is balanced, we know what to do at each phase during a game, when we don't have the ball and when we do have it. We aren't tied to one system, we don't have a defined style, we always look for balance."

With the exception of the absent Victor Alvarez and Juan Rafael Fuentes, Aguirre has a full squad to choose from but he has said he will make four changes to the team that beat Athletic 3-2 on Monday.

Villarreal coach Marcelino Garcia Toral, meanwhile, called Espanyol "a competitive team that takes few risks and is uncompromising".

He told reporters: "They have a clear idea of how to play and in Sergio Garcia they have a true leader. They have a very solid defence and are very dangerous on the counter-attack."

Marcelino has no fresh injury concerns following his team's 0-0 draw at Celta in their last game.