Villarreal matches worst defensive start in LaLiga with 10 goals conceded

Villarreal are enduring a forgettable start to the league season at the back. After conceding twice against Betis, the Castellón-based club have now shipped ten goals in the first five rounds of the competition, matching the worst defensive record in their top-flight history at this stage of a campaign.

• Villarreal have conceded 10 goals in their first five LaLiga matches.
• The tally equals the club's worst defensive start in the top flight, set in 2023-24.
• Iñigo Pérez's side remain winless and have fallen into the relegation zone.
• Gulacsi made several saves to prevent an even worse goals-against figure.

Ten goals conceded in five LaLiga matches

The opening weeks of the season have been a nightmare for the Villarreal defence. The team arrived to face Betis having already conceded eight goals in their first four games, an average of two per match that pointed to serious problems. The two goals scored by Betis took the count to ten and left the club in a position last seen during the 2023-24 season, when they also conceded ten times in their opening five fixtures.

The number reflects a structural weakness that affects the entire team, not just the defensive line. Transitions, pressing after losing the ball and concentration on set pieces are weighing heavily on a Villarreal side that cannot find answers from the dugout.

Gulacsi's saves prevented an even worse record

The statistics could have been even more painful for Villarreal. In the second half, goalkeeper Gulacsi became the main protagonist by denying several clear one-on-one chances from Betis. His interventions kept the team alive; without them, the yellows would have comfortably exceeded ten goals conceded in this early stretch of the season.

The goalkeeper's saves do not hide a problem that repeats itself week after week. Villarreal give away chances far too easily and leave too much space for their opponents, a lethal combination in a division as demanding as LaLiga.

Iñigo Pérez remains winless as relegation pressure grows

Poor results make the defensive numbers look even worse. Villarreal have still not won a single match with Iñigo Pérez in charge, a burden that is starting to weigh on the dressing room and the fans. The lack of victories has dropped the Yellow Submarine into the relegation zone, an unusual position for a club accustomed to fighting for Europe in recent years.

The project needs an immediate turnaround. The feelings transmitted by the team do not invite optimism, but the fixture list and the quality of the squad still leave room to correct the course before the situation turns into a deep crisis.

A defensive hole dragging down the whole project

The current record is a long way from Villarreal's best defensive starts in the top flight. In previous seasons, the club built its success on defensive solidity, a trademark that has now disappeared. The comparison with those campaigns makes the team's regression even more evident.

Villarreal have conceded ten goals in five games, a burden that leaves them winless and in the relegation zone.

What Villarreal need to stop the bleeding

The immediate priority is to restore defensive order. Cutting out losses in dangerous areas, tightening marking on the flanks and recovering intensity in the press will be key to stopping the team from conceding so easily. Without an improvement at the back, any attacking progress will be cancelled out by the number of goals they allow.

There is still time to react, but it is running out. Every round without a win pushes Villarreal further away from their goals and sinks the confidence of a group that needs to rediscover its identity.