Villarreal vs Juventus Prediction for 2 October 2025 - Football

🔈 Which team will secure their first victory in this season's Champions League? In the second round of Europe's premier club competition, the Estadio de la Cerámica will host a clash between Spain's Villarreal and Italy's Juventus. Both clubs are highly ambitious this season and aim to at least reach the knockout stage. It's worth noting that for the "Yellow Submarine," this upcoming match will be their third in a week, which is likely to impact the players' physical condition. Nevertheless, the bookmakers are giving a slight edge to the home side.

Head-to-Head

📊 The head-to-head history between the teams includes just 2 matches, both from the 2021/22 Champions League Round of 16. The teams played to a draw at "Ceramica" (1-1), but at the "Allianz Arena," the Spanish side pulled off a sensational 3-0 victory. During that campaign, the "Yellow Submarine" achieved an incredible milestone by reaching the semifinals of Europe's premier club competition.

Villarreal Team Overview

🟡 After a lackluster spell in early September, the "Yellow Submarine" have made adjustments to their game and are now riding a three-match winning streak. In the opening round of the Champions League, Villarreal couldn't hold off English side Tottenham (0-1) in London, although Marcelino's men matched the Spurs in terms of quality play. The Spanish club's tactical model centers around flank activity and constant player movement. The head coach of the "Yellow Submarine" favors a 4-4-2 formation, which allows for flexibility during tough encounters and helps cover defensive gaps during quick counter-attacks.

📌 Marcelino has been at the helm of Villarreal since 2023 and is effectively working towards the long-term goals set by the management. Before the start of the current season, the "Yellow Submarine" executed an ambitious transfer campaign, primarily aimed at achieving success in the Champions League. Last weekend, the Spanish side hosted Athletic (1-0) in their domestic league. Despite their usual defensive issues, Marcelino's squad managed to contain a well-balanced opponent and netted the winning goal late in the second half. It's worth noting that Villarreal don't insist on dominating possession, preferring instead to exploit space and capitalize on rapid counter-attacks.

Juventus Turin Team Overview

⚪ The decision to appoint Thiago Motta as head coach before last season didn't pan out for the management. By spring, Croatian specialist Igor Tudor took the helm of the Turin side. A solid late-season performance earned him a full-time contract with the "Old Lady." Juventus have started the new season on a high note, remaining unbeaten in six matches across all competitions. Currently, the "Bianconeri" sit in 4th place in the national league, trailing the top spot by just one point. Their European campaign kicked off with a thrilling draw against Borussia Dortmund (4-4).

⚫ Last weekend, Igor Tudor's squad hosted Atalanta and drew 1-1. Despite dominating throughout the match, as reflected in the xG statistics (1.59 to 0.73), the "Old Lady" had to rely on a late equalizer from Juan Cabal in the 78th minute. While Igor Tudor may not employ a uniquely modern style of football, his ability to secure crucial results in challenging matches is invaluable over the course of a season. His tactical approach is built around a 3-4-2-1 formation, which notably lacks traditional wingers. Instead, two attacking midfielders typically operate in the half-spaces, creating room for wing-backs to join the attack.

Latest news

Villarreal

🎤 Villarreal's head coach Marcelino reflected on his team's three-match winning streak during a recent press conference following their 1-0 victory over Athletic: “We were disorganized in the first half. We allowed them to dominate on their home turf. We were late and slow to react. Although we had a few chances, the feeling wasn't great. At halftime, we regrouped and outperformed Athletic. We created opportunities and didn't let them threaten our goal. I am very happy and grateful to the fans for their support. They create a very appealing atmosphere. I thank them, as well as the players who managed to turn things around in the second half. Now we want to beat Juve. We are hoping for an excellent atmosphere and ask the fans to help us. It's very challenging to defeat a team of that caliber, but this team has the ambition, enthusiasm, and ability to do it.”

❌ Among the players who will be unavailable for Villarreal's upcoming European clash are Pau Cabanes (knee injury), Logan Costa (knee injury), Juan Foyth (muscle injury), Willy Kambwala (hamstring injury), Gerard Moreno (hamstring injury), and Ayoze Perez (muscle injury).

Juventus Turin

🎤 Following a 1-1 draw against Atalanta in the last Serie A round, Igor Tudor offered his interim assessment: "The first half was the best since I've been coaching Juventus. The goal we conceded wasn't reflective of our gameplay quality. In the second half, both teams pushed hard, and we had a 15-minute spell where we couldn't score. This was a Champions League-level match, and we're satisfied. When commenting, we should start with the quality of play, not the result. At halftime, I was very pleased—I saw a magnificent Juventus. The main thing is how the team plays; results will follow." When asked about inconsistent results, the Croatian coach added: "There's no inconsistency. There are just other teams. Name me one team in the world that plays equally well for all 90 minutes... That's football."

❌ In the "Zebras" injury list are Arkadiusz Milik (knee injury) and Fabio Miretti (thigh injury). Bremer and Francisco Conceição trained individually ahead of the European fixture, so their participation remains uncertain.

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

The upcoming European clash will be officiated by Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs. To remind you, Kovacs was in charge of the 2024/25 Champions League final between Inter and PSG. Let's take a look at his stats: he averages 4.78 yellow cards per game with 24 fouls. Moreover, in 34% of matches, Kovacs points to the penalty spot. A notable trend is that in 4 out of Villarreal's last 5 games, there have been at least 5 bookings. We suggest considering the following bet – over 4 total yellow cards.

⚽ Goals Prediction

Both teams have been quite prolific at the start of the new season. Villarreal scores an average of 1.6 goals per game, while Juventus nets 2.2. Notably, in 4 of Juventus' last 5 matches, both sides have found the back of the net, indicating some defensive frailties under Igor Tudor. Considering these factors, we recommend betting on – over 2 total goals.

🚩 Corners Prediction

It's telling that the Yellow Submarine concedes a minimal number of corners, averaging around 2.8 per game. In comparison, the same statistic for the Old Lady stands at 5.9. Marcelino's side is known for their sharp counterattacks and consistently creates wing threats at the opponent's end. We believe this will primarily affect the corner count in the match. Our editorial choice is – Villarreal to win the corners battle.

Identifying a clear favorite in this match is nearly impossible. Facing Villarreal at the "Cerámica" is a daunting task for any team. Considering that Juventus are still regarded as a work in progress, lacking remarkable consistency, Igor Tudor's side will likely face challenges in securing the desired result as well. It's crucial to focus on the scoring trends of both sides, which suggest a dynamic encounter with plenty of goals. A final score of 2-2 seems quite plausible. The key bet is on over 2 goals total.