ADELAIDE United will play Spanish La Liga powerhouse Villarreal at Coopers Stadium on Friday, May 29.

Adelaide officials are today expected to confirm Villarreal as its second La Liga opponent less than 12 months after hosting Malaga (1-5) in a friendly at Adelaide Oval last July.

More than 23,000 fans watched Malaga at Adelaide Oval in a fixture which put soccer at the venue for the first time since the $535 million redevelopment was completed last year.

Villarreal’s appearance in SA this year is part of Spain’s LFP World Challenge tour where La Liga clubs travel to all parts of the globe in goodwill friendlies which is funded partly by the Spanish government.

It’s understood LFP World Challenge officials were much more content to play the clash at the smaller 16,500 capacity Hindmarsh due to the stadium being a priority soccer venue whereas Adelaide Oval’s pitch is better suited for Australian football and cricket.

Nonetheless Villarreal houses nine internationals including Costa Rican Joel Campbell who is on loan from England’s Arsenal, and Mexico’s former Barcelona players Giovani and Jonathon del Santos.

Villarreal is currently sixth in the Spanish league and has this season beaten Atletico Madrid and held Real Madrid to a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeau in March.

The club was knocked out of this season’s UEFA Europa League knockout stages by fellow Spanish club Seville — who were also on the radar of meeting Adelaide as part of the 2015 LFP tour.

Villarreal, which is coached by Marcelino, 49, is also tipped to face Brisbane Roar in Queensland on June 3.