After finishing sixth in La Liga last season, and qualifying for the Europa League as a result, there was a concern that Villareal would struggle to be as successful this campaign. They are not the biggest of clubs in Spain – far from it actually – and certainly do not have the resources or squad depth like others in their league. They do have a philosophy, though, and it is one that is proving very successful once again this season. Not only have the reached the last 16 of this competition but they are still competing at the top end of the Primera Division, where they currently occupy sixth – five points off fourth placed Valencia.
As current holders of the competition, much was expected of Sevilla to go well once again in the Europa League. Unai Emery’s men have had to balance qualifying for this stage with competing for a top four place domestically, similar to their opponents. They sit one point ahead of Villareal in La Liga, indicating that this is going to be a very close and competitive tie. The way the games fall mean that the two clubs will face each other three times in the space of 10 days with a league fixture to come three days after the second leg.
Villareal have been extremely effective when playing at El Madrigal this season, winning 10 of their 13 home games in the Primera Division and unbeaten in all five of their Europa League home games, winning four of those. They negotiated what was a very tricky tie in the round of 32 getting the better of Red Bull Salzburg 5-2 on aggregate. What has been interesting is their prioritising this competition of La Liga, evidenced by the resting of key players in domestic games.
Like Villareal, Sevilla enjoy a much better record at home than when playing away. They never won any of their three group games (drawing two and losing away to Feyenoord) but they did manage a win in Germany in the first knockout stage – seeing off ‘Gladbach. Their main aim in this game will be to get an away goal and keep the tie alive heading into the second leg in Seville, in a weeks time. Although they have lost four of their last five away games in the league, three of those have been by the odd goal and they have scored in each of them.
It’s probably a tie that neither of these two teams wanted at this stage but it’s an an excellent couple of games for the neutral to look forward to. Villareal have only lost to Barcelona and Valencia at home in their last 18 games at El Madrigal which is an indication of how strong they are when playing at home. Sevilla would not be overly distraught with a narrow loss, particularly if they score. They have conceded 20 goals in their last seven away games in all competitions, and that defensive vulnerability may well be exposed once again.
Villareal 11/10 @ William Hill
