Espanyol dismiss coach Manolo González after cup shock
Espanyol sacked Manolo González on Tuesday evening after the team were knocked out of the Copa del Rey by fourth-tier Sestao River. The 47-year-old had led the Barcelona club to La Liga in 2024.
LaLiga · Matchday 11 Villarreal vs Espanyol Prediction, Match Preview & Stats
Our picks
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To take in the latest form and rest days, the predictions for this match come out on . (If either team plays another match in between, they come out once that match is over.)
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Latest news
All newsVillarrealEspanyol
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Sestao River stun Espanyol in Spanish cup thriller
The fourth-tier Spanish side scored in the last minute of extra time to knock Espanyol out of the cup, a result that cost Manolo González his job.
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Espanyol dismiss coach Manolo
Espanyol have sacked Manolo after a run that left them in the relegation places and a Copa exit at the hands of Sestao.
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Sestao knock out a poor Espanyol
Espanyol, with their main starters, lost to Segunda RFEF side Sestao and were eliminated, their third straight cup exit against a lower-division opponent. The coach's position now looks untenable.
6 more news items
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Espanyol coach leaves three out for Sestao trip
Manolo has left Gorosabel, Núñez and Pere Milla out of the Espanyol squad and takes only two reserve players to Sestao. He says he will not repeat mistakes made in other years.
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Espanyol coach admits his job is at risk but expects to stay
The Espanyol manager says his position is in danger and that he has lost credibility, but he sees himself still in charge at Villarreal. He will be on the bench against Sestao in the Copa and in the league match on Friday.
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Espanyol back in relegation zone after 272 days
Espanyol have dropped into the relegation places for the first time since matchday 21 of the 2024-25 season, 272 days ago.
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Elliott apologises after red card at Mestalla
The English player apologised for his error and promised it will not happen again after being sent off. He was reprimanded by coach Aguirre over the double protest that left his team a man down and helped Villarreal take the points at Mestalla.
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Villarreal match 25-win record with derby victory
Villarreal's win in their farewell visit to Mestalla brings their overall tally to 25 victories and their best unbeaten run in the derby.
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Decisive hours for Espanyol coach Manolo
Manolo, the Espanyol coach, has never been sacked in his career, but reports suggest that record is now at risk. The coming hours are described as decisive for his future.
Form guide
Villarreal
- W 5-0 at CD Manacor (A) Copa del Rey · 27 Oct
- W 2-1 at Valencia (A) LaLiga · 24 Oct
- L 3-4 at Liverpool (A) Champions League · 20 Oct
- D 0-0 vs Elche (H) LaLiga · 17 Oct
- W 3-1 vs Napoli (H) Champions League · 13 Oct
Espanyol
- L 3-4 at Sestao (A) Copa del Rey · 27 Oct
- L 1-2 at Racing Santander (A) LaLiga · 24 Oct
- L 0-1 vs Atlético Madrid (H) LaLiga · 17 Oct
- D 1-1 at Málaga (A) LaLiga · 9 Oct
- L 1-3 vs Elche (H) LaLiga · 18 Sep
Last five competitive matches before kick-off, all competitions, results after 90 minutes.
Attack and defence ratings
VillarrealEspanyol
0 to 100 against this season's LaLiga clubs (100 = best). The rating is our model's long-run strength before this match: it uses the last three years and counts recent matches most, so a few results do not move it at once. Under each rating: this season's actual goals per match.
Head-to-head
14Villarreal wins
10draws
4Espanyol wins
28 meetings since 2010, results after 90 minutes.
- 9 Feb 2026 · LaLiga Villarreal 4-1 Espanyol
- 8 Nov 2025 · LaLiga Espanyol 0-2 Villarreal
- 27 Apr 2025 · LaLiga Villarreal 1-0 Espanyol
- 26 Sep 2024 · LaLiga Espanyol 1-2 Villarreal
- 27 Apr 2023 · LaLiga Villarreal 4-2 Espanyol
LaLiga so far
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | Goals | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Villarreal | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 15:14 | +1 | 12 |
| 18 | Espanyol | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 12:14 | -2 | 8 |
Positions in our table of 20 clubs, before kick-off. Full table
Match facts
- Competition
- LaLiga, Matchday 11
- Kick-off
- Venue
- Estadio de la Cerámica, Villarreal
- Since last match
- Villarreal: 3 days (Copa del Rey)
Espanyol: 3 days (Copa del Rey) - Next match
- Villarreal: 4 days (Champions League) later
Espanyol: 7 days (LaLiga) later
Questions and answers
What time is Villarreal vs Espanyol and where is it played?
Villarreal vs Espanyol kicks off at 20:00 UK time (20:00 UTC) on Friday 30 October 2026 at Estadio de la Cerámica, Villarreal. It is a LaLiga match (Matchday 11).
When will the OptimaGoal prediction for Villarreal vs Espanyol be published?
Our picks and their reasons are published 48 hours before kick-off at the earliest, from 20:00 UTC on Wednesday 28 October 2026, once both teams have played their previous match. The result percentages follow for everyone 2 hours before kick-off, at 18:00 UTC on Friday 30 October 2026; every other percentage is for members until the match is over.
What is the recent form of Villarreal and Espanyol?
Villarreal have 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat in their last 5 matches in all competitions, and have won their last 2. Espanyol have 0 wins, 1 draw and 4 defeats in their last 5 matches in all competitions, and have lost their last 3.
What is the head-to-head record between Villarreal and Espanyol?
Villarreal and Espanyol have met 28 times in our records since 2010: Villarreal won 14, Espanyol won 4 and 10 ended level. Last meeting: 2026-02-09, Villarreal 4-1 Espanyol.
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Times are UTC.