Scored twice in 4 times! In the Champions League, Haaland has scored 8 goals in 8 games against La Liga teams in his career.

In the third round of the Champions League in the early hours of Wednesday morning, Manchester City will go to an away game to challenge Villarreal. Before this game, OPTA took stock of some data from the confrontation between the two teams.

In the last Champions League match, Villarreal and Manchester City both drew with their opponents with a score of 2-2, but the former was obviously more satisfied with the result because their opponent was Juventus, while Manchester City's opponent was Monaco. During Guardiola's coaching career, he has never lost against Villarreal, winning 5 of 8 meetings.

Villarreal has a good counterattack ability. In this season's Champions League, they have completed four shots through quick counterattacks, which is second only to Bruges and Liverpool (both five times). They have also scored nine goals this way in La Liga since the start of last season, including one against Real Betis last Saturday.

Villarreal’s hopes may rest on former Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe. Pepe has created seven chances for Villarreal in two Champions League games this season, twice as many as any other player. He is currently one of only six players to create at least five chances and complete more than five dribbles in the game.

However, Manchester City star Haaland has an outstanding performance that surpasses any opponent. Haaland has scored eight goals in eight Champions League games against Spanish sides, helped by four braces, the most by a single player against a La Liga side in Champions League history. Haaland also scored both goals in Manchester City's 2-0 win over Everton on Saturday, taking his total to 17 in all competitions for the 2025-26 season, which includes this summer's Club World Cup.

Villarreal is seeking its first win in the Champions League this season. Previously, they had only taken less than two points from their first three group games in 2011-12, when they lost to Manchester City in their third game and even the signs were not in their favour. Villarreal's two clashes with Manchester City took place in the UEFA Champions League group stage in the 2011-12 season, and the English team won both games in that tournament (2-1 at home, 3-0 away).

However, their last few trips to Spain were not so pleasant. City have won just four of their 14 away games against Spanish teams in the Champions League and lost seven.