After Europa League triumph and an open encounter in Santander, it's back to the grind at home to Hércules. The Alicante-based side has won just once away from home in La Liga, but what a victory: 0-2 in Camp Nou. Let's hope to avoid a repeat at El Madrigal.
Hércules CF suffers from the injury bug: key contributors Drenthe, Farinós (on loan to Villarreal way back in 2003), and Valdez will miss the match. Villarreal is without Ángel and Senna, but Bruno returns after serving a one-match sanction for picking up five yellow cards. That is seemingly the only way that Garrido will give him a rest.
Garrido's 18-man squad for the match:
Keepers: Diego López & Juan Carlos.
Defenders: Capdevila, Catalá, Cicinho, Gonzalo, Marchena, Mario & Musacchio.
Midfielders: Borja Valero, Bruno, Cani, Cazorla, Marcos Gullón & Wakaso.
Strikers: Nilmar, Rossi & Marco Ruben.
Only one change from the group that faced Racing: Bruno in for Cristóbal. Sadly, this is not a surprise based on the latter's performance in Santander. Another time, perhaps.
It will take a workmanlike effort to win our first Comunitat Valenciana derbi at home, having drawn with Valencia and lost to Levante. We have taken four points from two away matches, but teams do not park the bus as much in front of their own fans.
A different kind of challenge, but one that Garrido should have the squad up for. I'll say 3-0 to Villarreal, with a Rossi brace for good measure. Endavant Villarreal!