Elche vs Villarreal Prediction, 1/3/2026 Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

by Josh Schonwald - 1/2/2026

Game: Elche vs Villarreal

Date: Saturday, January 3, 2026

Location: Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero in Alicante, Spain

TV: ESPN Deportes

Elche (5-7-5) will go up against Villarreal (11-2-3) at Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero in Alicante, Spain on Saturday. Elche are priced at +125 while the Submarino Amarillos are at -150. The total has been set at 3. The goalkeepers protecting the net are Inaki Pena for Elche and Luiz Lucio Reis Junior for Villarreal.

soccer picks Gerard Moreno Villarreal predictions best bet odds

The Green-Striped Ones have a ranking of 12th in the matter of expected goals having 19.9, and their expected goals against are coming in at 23.8. Elche CF has surrendered 20 goals while surrendering 1.18 goals per 90 min, and opponents have 77 SoT against them. Their goal differential is at 3 by way of 23 goals scored as well as 20 goals conceded. They have recorded 5 clean sheets, giving them a rate of 29.4% on the season. Elche has a total of 57 SVs and have earned a SV% of 74.0% so far this year. Elche has recorded 29 yellow cards so far this season as well as 3 red cards. This year, this team sports an average of 1.29 points per contest (22 pts) and are ranked 6th among Big 5 teams with 17 assists.

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The Submarino Amarillos average 2.2 pts per match while sitting with 21 assists and 2 red cards. Villarreal CF has amassed a shut out percentage of 43.8% so far this year and 38 yellow card warnings. Villarreal is 1st when talking about goals against with 15, and their goal difference sits at 16. On the year, Villarreal CF has a save % of 71.7% (53 shots on target against), and also sit at 4th among Big 5 teams with 35 points. This team's goals against/90 min is currently at 0.94 with 37 saves, and they are sitting with 7 shutouts. Villarreal has totaled 31 goals and the team's expected goals on the campaign sits at 26.5.

The man protecting the net for Elche will be Inaki Pena. Pena has played for 3,359 minutes and has tallied 101 stops so far in his career. His GA/90 is 1.37 (51 goals conceded) and he holds a save percentage of 66.4%. The goalkeeper hailing from Spain has had 152 shots tried at him in 36 starting assignments. Pena (16-8-12 record during his career) has recorded 10 shutouts, which gives him a 26.8%% shutout rate.

Luiz Lucio Reis Junior will reside in front of the goal for Villarreal. During his pro soccer career, Reis Junior has allowed 27 goals while earning 79 stops in 29 starting assignments. He has surrendered 0.92 goals per 90 while he holds a mark of 19-5-5. He sports a save percentage of 73.8% and his shutout rate is currently at 41.1%%. Reis Junior has accumulated 12 shutouts and has seen 107 shots tried against him in 2,628 career mins.

Rafa Mir is one footballer who can be a force for Elche. Mir has been given a starting assignment in 139 matchups thus far in his career and has 0.43 goals per 90 mins. The midfielder born in Spain has 64 goals scored in 13,366 mins. He has accounted for 11 assists while tallying 139 points in his career.

Villarreal features Gerard Moreno, who can change the course of a fixture. He has accumulated 407 pts during his pro soccer career and has assisted a teammate on a goal 63 times. The forward representing Spain has accumulated 31,875 mins while scoring 172 goals. He scores 0.49 G/90 and has had a starting assignment in 354 outings in his career.

Who will win tonight's soccer game against the spread?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Elche (-150)

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Pick:	GREEN BAY PACKERS +6.5
Start:	January 4, 2026 @ 1:00 PM
Expert:	Doc's Sports

Analysis:

Free Play from Doc’s Sports. Take #335 Green Bay Packers +6.5 over Minnesota Vikings (1p.m., Sunday, January 4 CBS) Green Bay is locked into the No. 7 seed in the NFC Playoffs and thus the experts are expecting them to rest a lot of players in this game. Minnesota is still very weak at the quarterback position, and I am not sure this is a good spot for them laying this many points against a divisional opponent. Does Green Bay really want to enter the playoffs getting blown out in this game making it 4 straight losses? I think they will play some key players and be able to take this game down to the wire. Do not miss out on Doc’s Sports Weekend Football Card featuring top plays in NFL, College Football, NBA, and NHL. Sign- up now and let 54 years of handicapping experience work for you. Read More Read Less

Elche vs Villarreal Prediction, 1/3/2026 Soccer Pick, Tips and Odds

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