Villarreal v Valencia, 63rd derby marks shifting balance of power in the Comunitat | OneFootball

La Cerámica stages the 63rd official Villarreal v Valencia derby on Sunday at 21:00, a rivalry whose balance has shifted over the past decade. It is the most-played regional clash within the Comunitat Valenciana.

According to Superdeporte, Valencia lead the overall series 25-23 with 14 draws since their first official meeting in 1986. In La Liga this century, only Barcelona v Espanyol has been contested more often between neighbours.

Since Villarreal's 1998 promotion, the league head-to-head favours the Submarine, 22 wins to 18 with 11 draws. The turning point came over the last decade under Peter Lim, as Valencia's 2019 exits of Marcelino García Toral, now back at Villarreal, and Mateu Alemany preceded a turbulent, underinvested spell.

Villarreal have consolidated under president Fernando Roig, winning the Europa League in 2021 with Unai Emery. Marcelino's side sit third, 22 points clear of Carlos Corberán's Valencia, who are fighting to avoid relegation.

The derby has produced landmarks. Gica Craioveanu settled the first league meeting in Vila-real in February 1999. Valencia won a 2003/04 UEFA Cup semi-final, while Villarreal reached the Champions League last four two years later.

Both come off wins at Levante in Orriols, Villarreal's postponed matchday 16 settled by Mikautadze. At La Cerámica, the hosts have won four of the past five derbies. Valencia last triumphed there in 2019 in the Europa League, 1-3, and in La Liga in 2017, 0-2 through Carlos Soler and Santi Mina.

Source: Superdeporte