Marcelino has called on his side to "work hard and match Athletic Club's intensity" ahead of a crucial clash in which Villarreal could take a big step towards securing Champions League qualification. 

Villarreal are embroiled in a congested top-four tussle in LaLiga, and while a title charge is out of the question for Marcelino's side, there is still plenty at stake in the race for a top-four finish. 

The Yellow Submarine slumped to a 1-0 loss against Girona in their last league outing, which put an end to a three-match unbeaten streak that followed their 4-1 loss to Barcelona at the end of February.

And Marcelino conceded that his side did not play up to the mark in Montilivi, urging them to raise their standards ahead of Sunday's clash at San Mames. 

"We are aware that at Montilivi we didn't do enough to win and we want to change that," the Villarreal boss said. 

"I expect a very tough match, as Athletic are a very powerful team at home.  

"To win, we must work very hard, match their intensity, which is not easy at all, and be effective with the ball in the final third – something we didn't achieve in Girona.  

"Finally, we need to be more clinical, which is difficult, but it would bring us closer to victory. 

"Overall, we have good numbers away from home, but recently we've lost that solidity as visitors and we need to recover it." 

Villarreal also find themselves in the midst of a three-match winless streak on the road.

"Overall, we have good numbers away from home, but recently we've lost that solidity as visitors and we need to recover it," Marcelino added.  

"Now we have four home matches and four away matches remaining. We want to compete at a higher level than we did in Girona." 

Athletic, meanwhile, suffered a 2-0 loss to Getafe in their last outing, leaving them in the bottom half with eight matches left to play. 

Training.#LALIGARETRO | #42LEGADOSLALIGA pic.twitter.com/WTQntE5Unm

— Villarreal CF English (@VillarrealCFen) April 9, 2026

PLAYERS TO WATCH  

Athletic Club – Inaki Williams 

Athletic forward Inaki Williams has been involved in eight goals in 22 LaLiga appearances against Villarreal CF (five goals and three assists).  

He has only been involved in more goals in the competition against Real Betis (10 – six goals and four assists) and Celta (nine – four goals and five assists). 

Villarreal – Georges Mikautadze 

Despite drawing a blank against Girona, Villarreal have been admirably led in front of goal by Georges Mikautadze this season. 

The Georgian striker leads the Yellow Submarine with 14 goal contributions in LaLiga this term (nine goals and five assists). 

MATCH PREDICTION: ATHLETIC CLUB WIN 

Home advantage could be set to play a major part in this contest, with Athletic Club emerging as favourites ahead of kick-off. 

Ernesto Valverde's side are also unbeaten in their last six LaLiga home games against Villarreal (W4 D2), having never gone seven consecutive home matches without a defeat against them in the competition. 

Furthermore, they have won three of their last four home games in the league (L1), as many victories as in their previous nine matches at San Mames in the competition (W3 D2 L4). 

Following their 1-0 victory at the Estadio de la Ceramica in the reverse fixture, Villarreal are looking to complete the league double over Athletic for the fifth time in history, having previously done so in 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2010-11). 

Villarreal are unbeaten in their last two league matches against Athletic (W1 D1), keeping a clean sheet in both, though they have never managed three consecutive clean sheets against the Lions. 

Both sides are, however, coming off disappointing recent displays. In their defeat to Girona, Villarreal failed to register a shot on target in a LaLiga match for the first time since September 2023 against Getafe.  

Athletic, meanwhile, also failed to have a shot on target in their loss to Getafe, doing so for the first time since January 2024 against Cadiz. 

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY  

Athletic Club – 41.6% 

Draw – 26.9% 

Villarreal – 31.5%