Villarreal go into tomorrow's Primera Liga's clash at home to Espanyol desperate for their first league win this season.

The 'Yellow Submarine' were expected to challenge for a Champions League spot this term, but are without a win from their five league matches so far, having drawn two and lost three under new coach Ernesto Valverde.

That shocking run has left the club in the bottom three ahead of the game against Espanyol and Villarreal's misery was further compounded as they went down 2-0 to FC Salzburg in the Europa League on Thursday night.

Following that defeat, Valverde met club president Fernando Roig yesterday to discuss the team's poor start to the season.

And the coach revealed everyone at the club is pulling in the same direction to try and turn around their fortunes on the pitch.

"We're very together," he said.

Villarreal are a club that have enjoyed success only in recent years and in that respect, Valverde believes the fans are more patient than at other teams.

But he also knows that expectations have been raised following several successful seasons under previous coach Manuel Pellegrini and concedes that results are necessary in this business.

"This is a club that's different, but results are needed, like at all clubs," he said.

And Valverde, a former Espanyol player and coach, is treating tomorrow's clash at El Madrigal as if it were a final.

"It's a little final for us - what we can't do is let our heads drop, thinking about the bad luck we are having.

"We are in a difficult situation and we will have to go out, show our pride and give everything on the pitch from the first minute to the last," he said.

Diego Godin, Ariel Ibagaza and David Fuster were all left out of the squad to face Salzburg, but could return against Espanyol, while Gonzalo Rodriguez is available again after suspension.

Villarreal are currently second from bottom in the table, with just two points from their five matches.

Espanyol also know what it is like to be down at the bottom. The Catalans lost their first two matches this season and propped up the league table but hit back with back-to-back wins in their next two outings and a draw at home to Xerez last weekend.

Those results have seen the Barcelona-based side rise to 10th place in the table, and coach Mauricio Pochettino says his team will set out for a win at El Madrigal.

"We are going there to win all three points," he said.

Pochettino hopes his side have more luck in front of goal after failing to break down bottom-of-the-table Xerez last weekend.

"Against Xerez we deserved a better result - we need to improve our build-up play and we need more luck in front of goal," he said.

Ivan De La Pena and Raul Tamudo could come back from injury against Villarreal, but both are doubtful.

Juan Forlin looks set to return after recovering from injury, though.