Villarreal roll into Mendizorroza with real momentum. They've just come through a tricky early-season run that included a trip to the Metropolitano, where they gave Atlético Madrid a proper scare. Simeone's side needed every bit of their defensive steel to shade a close contest, and the Yellow Submarine left with plenty of credit. That performance tells you everything about their current state: organised, confident, and dangerous on the break. The return of Juan Foyth from that long Achilles nightmare is a massive boost — he's already played the first match and looked like he'd never been away. Gerard Moreno and Santi Comesaña have shaken off minor knocks and are training without restrictions. This is a Villarreal side that's healthy, sharp, and growing into the season.

Alavés, meanwhile, are the classic early-season unknown. They've had a quiet start, with no standout results to hang their hat on. At home, though, they're always a different animal. Mendizorroza is a tight, intimidating ground where bigger sides have come unstuck before. But the brief shows no recent competitive results for the home side, and that's a concern. You can't build a case for them on form when there's nothing to point to. They'll be organised, they'll be compact, but they lack the attacking spark that Villarreal clearly possess. The visitors look the sharper, more settled outfit right now.