Villarreal will be bidding to make it successive victories in La Liga when they head to Real Sociedad on Monday evening, and this contest will represent the Yellow Submarine’s first match of 2025.

Indeed, while Real Sociedad were in Copa del Rey action at the start of this month, Villarreal have had an extended period of rest, as Marcelino‘s side were surprisingly knocked out in the second round of the cup competition by Pontevedra.

Finding the back of the net has been a real problem for Imanol Alguacil‘s side this term, only managing 16 in their 18 matches, which is the joint-third worst attacking record behind Getafe (11) and Real Valladolid (13).

However, the Basque side have been strong down the other end of the field, conceding only 13, which represents the second-best defensive record behind Atletico Madrid (12).

Real Sociedad suffered a 2-0 defeat to Celta Vigo in their last league match on December 21, but they were winners last time out, beating Ponferradina 2-0 in the Copa del Rey to book their spot in the round of 16; the White and Blues will now tackle Rayo Vallecano for a position in the quarter-finals next week.

Alguacil’s side have underwhelmed on home soil this season, only picking up 11 points from their nine matches in front of their own supporters, while Villarreal have been strong on their travels, securing 17 points from nine games.

Villarreal’s second-round exit from the Copa del Rey means that the Yellow Submarine have not taken to the field since recording a 5-2 success over Leganes in Spain’s top flight on December 22.

The victory ended a six-game winless run in all competitions and left them in fifth spot in the La Liga table, boasting 30 points from their 18 matches courtesy of a record of eight wins, six draws and four defeats.

The Eerste Divisie isn’t the goal-fest league like it used to be but still when these Jong sides play there are usually goals. Last time they met in Alkmaar Jong AZ battered Jong Ajax 5-2 and the Alkmaar boys have also won the last two meetings in Amsterdam 2-1 and 4-1. This season Jong AZ games are averaging 3.55 goals per game (3rd highest) whilst unusually Jong AZ are on the other end of spectrum with just 2.4 goals per game. That is mainly due to their home record however where they’ve only scored 10 goals and conceded 7 (joint league lowest).

On the road they have conceded 18 in 10 games and scored 13 so a bit more open and in recent times have conceded at least 2 goals in each of their last 5 away games. Jong AZ meanwhile have scored and conceded plenty at home – fourth highest home scorers with 23 goals in 10 games and third most conceded with 21, and in 5 out of their last 6 home games they have conceded 3 goals in each including 4 3-2 losses!

Jong AZ key attacked Jayden Addai was an unused sub in the 2-2 draw at PSV yesterday so would expect him to start here and should get on the scoresheet here.

After clinching the Trophee des Champions last Sunday, Paris Saint-Germain return to Ligue 1 action this weekend as they welcome Saint-Etienne to the Parc des Princes.

Having secured the domestic double in 2023-24, the Parisians faced last season’s league runners-up Monaco in the French Super Cup, winning the trophy for the 11th time in 12 years.

While repeating this feat for a second consecutive season might seem premature to call, the reigning champions show no signs of fatigue in their bid to maintain dominance as they remain well placed in both domestic competitions this term.

Prior to their Super Cup triumph, the Parisians progressed to the next phase of the Coupe de France after defeating Lens on penalties, having drawn 1-1 in regulation time.

In Ligue 1, PSG currently sit at the summit as the only side yet to taste defeat this campaign, with a seven-point cushion over second-placed Marseille.

Their most recent league outing saw them claim a 4-2 away victory against Monaco on December 18, bringing their total tally to 40 points after 16 matches, with 12 wins and four draws.

Next on the schedule is their first top-flight fixture of the new calendar year, against a side they have beaten 43 times in 81 meetings in the competition, having recorded more victories only against Metz (46) and Nantes (44).

Eirik Horneland, appointed on December 20 following the dismissal of Olivier Dall’Oglio, made a winning start as the Greens’ head coach with a 3-1 victory against Reims in his debut match last weekend.

That result ended a four-match losing streak across all competitions for Les Verts and lifted them out of the relegation zone, leaving them 15th with 16 points, one clear of 16th-placed Nantes.

In their bid to steer clear of the drop zone, Saint-Etienne will be hoping to benefit from PSG’s poor record in recent first league matches of a calendar year, with the Parisians failing to win three of the last four such encounters.

However, the visitors’ dreadful away form leaves little room for optimism, as they have suffered seven defeats and managed just one draw from eight games on the road, making them the side with the second-worst away record in the division.

With no player currently injured or suspended, manager Enrique has a wealth of options at his disposal and could look to freshen up his attack.

Bradley Barcola, the joint-second top scorer in the league, may be recalled to the starting XI after coming off the bench in PSG’s last two outings, while Goncalo Ramos is also pushing for a spot in the central forward role.

Super Cup hero Dembele is all but certain to start, with the French winger set to cause trouble for Saint-Etienne down the flank.

As for the visitors, Ibrahim Sissoko remains unavailable as he continues to serve his seven-match suspension following his dismissal against Marseille in the French Cup.

Several Sainte players will miss this weekend’s match through injury, including Mathis Amougou, Ibrahima Wadji, Yvann Macon, Ben Old and Thomas Monconduit, with all expected to return later in the month.

Manager Horneland could stick with the winning side from their previous game, with Augustine Boakye, who struck twice in that match, likely to retain his place on the wing.

Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Neves; Dembele, Ramos, Barcola

Saint-Etienne possible starting lineup:
Larsonneur; Batubinsika, Nade, Petrot, Appiah; Mouton, Ekwah; Boakye, Bouchouari, Cafaro; Stassin