Villarreal CF – 2025-26 Season Preview: Creativity Restored, Structure to Be Defined

Villarreal CF – 2025–26 Season Preview: Creativity Restored, Structure to Be Defined

Villarreal enters the 2025–26 La Liga season aiming to rediscover consistency following an injury-affected and tactically unstable 2024–25 campaign.

Squad Age Profile

Main Players’ Average Age: 26.7 years

Substitutes’ Average Age: 27.3 years

Key Contributors and Tactical Identity

Sergi Cardona (34 apps, 2555 mins) is the model of consistency at left-back, offering overlapping support and sound defensive instincts, Álex Baena (2608 mins) remains the creative heart of the side, drifting from the left into central channels to orchestrate attacks and unlock deep blocks, Logan Costa (2586 mins) and Diego Conde (1963 mins) form the spine at the back, with Costa emerging as Villarreal’s most reliable central defender, Santi Comesaña (2565 mins) and Pape Gueye (2232 mins) operate as the midfield engine: aggressive, positionally intelligent, and tasked with recycling possession efficiently. Dani Parejo, at 36, still contributes significantly (2281 mins), though more as a tempo-setter than ball-winner, Thierry Barry (2325 mins) provides direct, physical presence up front, often holding the line to allow Baena and Yeremy to operate in wider creative zones, Yeremy Pino (1948 mins) remains Villarreal’s most explosive dribbler, offering vertical threat on the right and combining well with overlapping fullbacks.

Evolving Roles & System Flexibility

Kiko Femenía (2232 mins) continues to deliver wide versatility, alternating between traditional winger and wing-back depending on tactical setup, Ayyoze Pérez offers depth in the half-spaces but has seen reduced usage (1976 mins) as Villarreal transitions to a more dynamic front three and Parejo’s role is being eased toward a more situational presence, allowing Comesaña and Gueye to shoulder more of the physical workload.

Substitutes & Tactical Rotation

Nicolas Pépé, Gerard Moreno, and Raúl Albiol provide veteran presence, but minutes are down due to injury and form concerns, Luiz Júnior and Willy Kambwala (1500+ minutes combined) offer depth in goal and defense, respectively, Alberto Moleiro, Tajon Buchanan, and Denis Suárez provide creative midfield options, especially in rotation against deeper blocks, Eric Bailly (620 mins) remains a capable defensive cover, while Juan Foyth (1517 mins) serves as a utility player across defensive roles, and Paula Marín and Étía Eyoi are the newest promotions high-upside prospects likely to see minutes in cup or lower-stakes fixtures.

Conclusion: Tactical Promise, but Structural Doubts Remain

Villarreal’s midfield and attacking units are good enough to break into the top seven, but defensive fragility and over-reliance on Baena and Cardona could become stumbling blocks. Much depends on how younger players like Moleiro and Buchanan adapt, and whether Barry continues converting possession dominance into end-product. With the right balance, the Yellow Submarine could return to continental waters but they’ll need more steel at the back to stay competitive.