Villarreal and Elche served up a goalless draw on the night, a result that leaves both sides with work to do in their respective campaigns. The match ended 0-0 after ninety minutes, a far cry from what our model had anticipated heading into the fixture.

Our prediction leaned toward Villarreal at 49% with a projected scoreline of 2-1, though a draw sat at just 25% — a plausible outcome among several, but well down the list. What actually unfolded proved considerably tighter and more defensive than expected. Before kickoff, the model factored in Villarreal's home advantage and recent H2H record against Elche, set against Elche's relegation battle and poor overall form. The setup suggested chances would flow and goals would come. Instead, neither side managed to break through.

This was a clear miss for our model, which had weighted attacking potential more heavily than the actual defensive solidity or caution on display proved warranted. In truth, goalless draws are rarer in matches with these underlying dynamics, so landing on 0-0 remains a legitimate possibility in any prediction set — just not the most favored one here. It's a solid reminder that form lines and league position don't always translate to open play, especially when one side is fighting for survival and the other lacks the drive to force matters. Villarreal will feel they should've made more of their home advantage, while Elche can take some comfort from a clean sheet against a side fancied to beat them.