Angel Lopez backs Villareal to perform this season
Villareal defender Angel Lopez has backed his team to make a strong La Liga bid this season, while conceding that Real Madrid or Barcelona are likely to clinch the title.
Angel's team are second in the league table, one point behind Valencia with five wins and one loss in six games. Villareal have won all their games since losing to Real Sociedad on the first day of the season.
The team crashed out of the Europa League's round of 32 against VfL Wolfsburg before finishing seventh in the league last season, despite claims that the squad was capable of challenging for the title.
"A year ago people said that we had the best team the club had ever had, but it went badly," said Angel, who reckons the tables have now turned. "Now it is different, because we have a good cushion of points and are confident of victory in every game."
Jaun Carlos Garrido's team will host Atletico Madrid in the league later this month before traveling to the Camp Nou to face Barcelona in November.
"We face several complicated games and we want to keep up our run. It is nice to be near the top, because the atmosphere is great around the club."
Barca or Real likely to finish top
Villareal's best league performance came in the 2007-2008 season when the team finished second behind champions Real Madrid.
Despite having come close to the league in his first season at the club, Angel said that the title will likely end up in Catalonia or the Spanish capital this season.
"Typically, Madrid or Barcelona win the league, but hopefully that streak will be broken someday. We have to first ensure we are safe in the division, and then we can think about things like Europe or the Champions League."
Villareal travel to face Hercules in the league on Monday evening.
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