Villarreal’s Tactical Identity in 2025: Yellow Submarine’s League Evolution

Explore Villarreal’s tactical blueprint for the 2024/25 La Liga season. Discover how their evolving identity is shaping the league and their future.

Villarreal’s Tactical Identity: How the Yellow Submarine Is Navigating 2025

For a club with modest resources but high footballing standards, Villarreal CF continues to defy expectations in La Liga. The 2024/25 season has brought with it a mix of transition and transformation for the Yellow Submarine—both in terms of players and tactics.

Following managerial shifts, squad adjustments, and evolving competition within the Bbin league, Villarreal is attempting to refine its tactical identity while remaining competitive in both domestic and European campaigns.

So, how does the team look tactically this season? What are the key principles driving their approach? And where are the signs of promise and potential pitfalls?

Let’s dive into the tactical DNA of Villarreal in the 2024/25 season.

⚙️ The System: Hybrid 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1

One of Villarreal’s defining tactical features this season is flexibility. While the base formation leans toward a 4-3-3, the system often shifts into a 4-2-3-1, especially against stronger opposition or when chasing games.

✅ Key Traits:

• Midfield control through deep build-up

• Use of inverted wingers for inside overloads

• Full-backs providing width and crossing options

• A fluid front four capable of switching roles

• Compact defensive shape in transition

This hybrid approach gives Villarreal the freedom to dictate tempo, whether in possession or in counter-pressing moments. It also allows them to adjust fluidly depending on the opponent’s shape.

🧠 Managerial Philosophy: Discipline Meets Creativity

Villarreal’s tactical clarity is a result of pragmatic coaching that blends defensive structure with creative license in attack.

Tactical Priorities:

• Build from the back with composure

• Control midfield through triangles and rotations

• Encourage wide interplay but cut inside in the final third

• Deploy a high press in key moments, not full-time

Rather than going all-in on high possession or ultra-defensive football, Villarreal strikes a balanced, nuanced style—a rarity in the modern league.

🧩 Key Players Defining Villarreal’s Tactical Identity

1. Álex Baena – The Playmaking Engine

Baena has become Villarreal’s creative hub. As a hybrid No. 10/left-sided playmaker, he offers:

• Vision and vertical passing

• Fluid movement between the lines

• 5 goals and 6 assists already this season

Baena’s ability to unlock defenses is vital to Villarreal’s progression and positional play.

2. Dani Parejo – The Orchestrator

Even in his mid-thirties, Parejo remains a key figure in Villarreal’s midfield setup.

• Dictates tempo with short and long passing

• Averages 85+ touches per match

• Acts as a deep-lying playmaker and set-piece specialist

His leadership and composure give stability to the midfield, allowing others to flourish around him.

3. Yeremy Pino – Tactical Width and Pressing

Operating mainly on the right flank, Pino stretches the play and adds energy on both ends.

• High work rate in pressing systems

• Can invert or stay wide depending on the phase

• Often leads counter-attacks and transitional moves

Pino’s versatility is a tactical asset in Villarreal’s shifting formations.

4. Pau Torres Replacement – Strengthening the Backline

Following Pau Torres’s departure, Villarreal’s defensive setup had to adjust. The integration of younger talents and tactical tweaks has:

• Created a more zonal marking system

• Increased reliance on keeper-sweeper play

• Emphasized fast ball recovery after turnovers

The backline may not boast star names but functions effectively as a unit in the league.

📊 Villarreal by the Numbers: Tactical Insights

These stats show that Villarreal is not only comfortable in possession but also sharp in transitional phases—a balanced tactical model fitting modern league standards.

🆚 Villarreal Against Top La Liga Teams

One of the major talking points this season has been how Villarreal competes against the traditional big clubs.

Vs Real Madrid (1–1 draw)

• Villarreal limited Madrid’s chances through compact midfield pressing.

• Created danger via Baena’s through balls and Pino’s overlapping runs.

Vs Barcelona (2–3 loss)

• Pressed aggressively in the first 30 minutes, leading 2–1 early.

• Faded defensively due to lack of depth and late-game substitutions.

Vs Atlético Madrid (2–2 draw)

• Displayed excellent tactical shape and countered effectively.

• Showed maturity in game management and composure under pressure.

These performances suggest that Villarreal is not far off the top level in the league, especially tactically.

💡 Youth Integration and Squad Depth

Villarreal has always been smart with its recruitment and youth promotion. The club continues to trust young players like:

• Jorge Pascual – Backup striker with physical presence

• Manu Trigueros – Versatile midfield veteran mentoring younger talent

• Fer Niño – Pushing for minutes in wide attacking roles

Developing internally has allowed Villarreal to maintain financial sustainability while staying competitive across the league season.

🧠 Tactical Evolution Ahead

With a balanced squad and tactical intelligence, Villarreal is well-placed to:

• Challenge for a top-six league finish

• Compete in Europe without compromising domestic form

• Lay long-term foundations for sustainable success

What they lack in superstars, they make up for in structure, discipline, and tactical awareness.

🗣️ Expert Quotes

“Villarreal play with a clarity you don’t often see outside of elite clubs.”
— Graham Hunter, Spanish football analyst

“They’re the most tactically intelligent team outside the big three.”
— Diego López, former La Liga defender

🙌 Support the League and Tactical Purity

In an era dominated by money and star power, Villarreal proves that tactical excellence and player development still matter.

If you’re a fan of strategy, fluid football, and underdog spirit, Villarreal deserves your attention. The Yellow Submarine continues to be one of the most tactically refined clubs in the league.

Support the league. Celebrate Villarreal’s journey. Respect the tactics behind the glory.