Buoyed by the Copa del Rey success against Real Sociedad, Villarreal will be aiming to extend their unbeaten run to 15 matches and pile more misery on struggling Athletic.

Los Leones made it through to the Copa del Rey quarter-finals despite losing at home to Celta, but they will have to show a massive improvement if they want to get something from this game.

Marcelino Garcia Toral has done brilliantly not only to get Villarreal back in the elite division but to turn the team into genuine top 4 contenders.

After achieving a top 6 finish last season, the Yellow Submarine have been quite impressive on all fronts this term, and they continue to impress.

Villlarreal eased off to the Europa League knockout stages, where they will face Red Bull Salzburg, while two very good performances against Real Sociedad saw them qualify for Copa del Rey quarter-finals.

And with the clash against Getafe next in the Last 8 stage, the Yellow Submarine are expected to cruise into the semis.

Meanwhile, team’s league campaign is also going according to plan, with Villarreal again in sixth place, some four points behind Champions League places.

Given that their next opponents are going through a very rough patch, bear in mind that home win pays 1.67 (2/3) at Betfred.

Denis Cherishev is available for selection after his fifth yellow card was rescinded, while Matteo Musacchio made a long-awaited comeback from a hamstring problem in midweek.

Probable starting line-up (4-4-2): Asenjo – Mario, Gabriel, Ruiz, Costa – J. Dos Santos, Trigueros, Bruno, Cheryshev – Vietto, Uche.

This is proving to be a nightmare season for one of Spain’s most famous clubs, and coach Ernesto Valverde is slowly running out of time to right all the wrongs.

Athletic have slipped to 13th in the league standings as they could take just one point from last five matches, and they now sit mere three points above the relegation zone.

Team’s Copa del Rey campaign has been the only shining light, but los Leones almost messed it up by losing at home to Celta Vigo.

However, having won the first leg 4-2, the 2-0 home defeat proved sufficient to go through, with Malaga now waiting for them in the quarter-finals.

Oddly enough, Athletic have been quite good on the travels of late, losing just one of last eight games (W4 D3 L1), and they are 2.30 (13/10) to avoid defeat at El Madrigal.

Iker Muniain misses out through suspension, while Ager Aketxe and Guillermo Fernandez remain in the infirmary.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Iraizoz – Iraola, Etxeita, Laporte, Balenziaga – Iturraspe, Mikel Rico – Ibai, De Marcos, Susaeta.