Nottingham Forest vs Villarreal Predictions

Nottingham Forest vs Villarreal predictions for this pre-season clash. Nottingham Forest face Villarreal in a pre-season friendly on Friday night, continuing their preparations for the 2024-25 campaign. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.

Club Friendlies | Aug 2, 2024 at 8pm UK at The City Ground

Nottingham Forest vs Villarreal Predictions

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Can Nottingham Forest and Villarreal Deliver a High-Scoring Encounter in Friendly Clash?

Nottingham Forest continue their preparations for the 2024-25 season with a friendly against Villarreal on Friday night. The Premier League side, led by Nuno Espirito Santo, will open their league campaign at home to Bournemouth on August 17, while Villarreal will start their La Liga season against Atletico Madrid on August 19.

Match Preview

Nottingham Forest have had a mixed pre-season so far, starting with a convincing 3-0 win over Chesterfield, followed by a 1-1 draw with Sunderland and a 2-1 victory against Millwall. Their most recent outing, however, was a 1-0 defeat to Elche on July 26. This match against Villarreal is one of their final opportunities to fine-tune their squad before the Premier League season begins. Forest finished 17th in the Premier League last season and have been active in the transfer market, securing notable signings such as Elliot Anderson from Newcastle United and Nikola Milenkovic from Fiorentina.

Villarreal began their pre-season with a 3-1 win over Sion but then suffered a 3-1 defeat to Saint-Etienne. The Yellow Submarine have three more friendlies lined up against Forest, Borussia Dortmund, and Brighton & Hove Albion before their La Liga opener. Marcelino’s side finished eighth in La Liga last season, their lowest finish since 2019, and will not participate in European competitions this year. They have strengthened their squad with additions like Willy Kambwala and Pape Gueye, aiming to improve on their defensive frailties from the previous season.

Team News and Expected Lineups

For Nottingham Forest, head coach Nuno Espirito Santo is likely to field a strong starting XI, including new signings Anderson and Milenkovic. Chris Wood is expected to lead the line, with support from Morgan Gibbs-White and Callum Hudson-Odoi in attack. Speculation surrounds the future of Murillo, but he is expected to stay and feature in this match.

Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1):
Turner; N Williams, Murillo, Milenkovic, Aina; Sangare, Anderson; Gibbs-White, Yates, Hudson-Odoi; Wood

Villarreal's lineup is likely to feature Alexander Sorloth, despite transfer rumours linking him to West Ham United. New signing Kambwala should also start, while Gerard Moreno and Ilias Akhomach are expected to be part of a strong attacking lineup.

Villarreal (4-3-3):
Conde; Foyth, Bailly, Kambwala, Alti; Trigueros, Parejo, Comesana; G Moreno, Sorloth, Akhomach

Tactical Analysis and Key Battles

The midfield battle will be crucial, with Nottingham Forest's Anderson and Sangare up against Villarreal's experienced trio of Trigueros, Parejo, and Comesana. Nottingham Forest will rely on the creativity of Gibbs-White and the pace of Hudson-Odoi to break down Villarreal's defence, while Villarreal will look to Sorloth and Moreno to exploit any weaknesses in Forest's backline.

Defensively, Forest must be wary of Villarreal's dynamic attack, especially given their own vulnerabilities from last season. Villarreal, on the other hand, will need to manage Forest's quick transitions and counter-attacks effectively.

Expected Gameplay

Nottingham Forest are likely to approach the game with an emphasis on solid defensive organisation and quick counter-attacks, utilising the pace of their wingers and the hold-up play of Chris Wood. Villarreal will aim to dominate possession, leveraging their technical midfielders to control the tempo and create opportunities through patient build-up play.

Key Statistics

Nottingham Forest averaged 1.3 goals per game in the Premier League last season, with a higher average of 1.4 goals per game at home. Their defensive record, however, was less impressive, conceding an average of 1.8 goals per game and keeping only four clean sheets throughout the season.

Villarreal scored an average of 1.7 goals per game in La Liga but conceded at the same rate. Their games were frequently high-scoring, with both teams finding the net in 79% of their matches. This trend has continued in their pre-season friendlies.

Critical Assessment

Nottingham Forest have shown promising signs in attack during pre-season but continue to struggle defensively. Their lack of clean sheets, even against lower-tier opposition, is a concern. However, their attacking potential, especially with new signings, could see them pose a significant threat to Villarreal's defence.

Villarreal, despite their attacking prowess, have defensive issues of their own. Their susceptibility to conceding goals was evident last season and has persisted into their pre-season games. Marcelino's challenge will be to tighten up defensively while maintaining their attacking effectiveness.

Managerial Analysis

Nuno Espirito Santo's tactical approach focuses on a solid defensive foundation and effective counter-attacks. However, his side's defensive lapses need addressing if they are to improve on last season's performance. Marcelino, on the other hand, needs to balance Villarreal's attacking capabilities with a more robust defensive strategy to avoid the inconsistencies that plagued their last campaign.

Betting Angles and Predictions

Best Bet: Both Teams to Score Given the attacking strengths and defensive weaknesses of both teams, it is highly likely that both sides will find the net. Nottingham Forest have scored consistently in pre-season, and Villarreal's high-scoring matches in La Liga and friendlies support this prediction.

Correct Score Prediction: Nottingham Forest 2-1 Villarreal Reflecting the likely competitive nature of the match and both teams' ability to score, a 2-1 win for Nottingham Forest seems plausible. Their home advantage and attacking form might give them a slight edge over Villarreal.

Goalscorer Prediction: Chris Wood to Score Chris Wood is expected to lead the line for Nottingham Forest, and his physical presence and finishing ability make him a prime candidate to score. He has been in good form during pre-season and will be key to Forest's attacking efforts.

Corner Prediction: Villarreal to Get More Corners, Total Over 9.5 Villarreal's possession-based style and attacking play typically result in a high number of corners. Nottingham Forest's counter-attacking approach might also lead to several corner opportunities, making a total of over 9.5 corners a reasonable expectation.

Innovative Market: Total Team Shots on Target Over 10.5 Both teams' attacking styles and tendency to take numerous shots on goal suggest that there will be plenty of efforts on target. Nottingham Forest's average of 3.9 shots on target per game and Villarreal's 4.5 support this market.

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