Dynamo Kiev Vs Villarreal
Dynamo Kiev Vs Villarreal Thursday 11th March 2021 – 17:55
UEFA Europa League
Pick: Villarreal to WIN
Odds: Evens
Bookmaker: BetFred
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 8th March 2021)
Preview: Both teams will feature in a Europa League Round of 16 tie for a fifth time when they take to the NSC Olympiyskiy Stadium pitch for Thursday’s first-leg. It is the Spanish side who are the favourites to progress, though, with Villarreal expected to gain the upper hand in Ukraine against hosts Dynamo Kiev.
UEFA Europa League Betting at Bet365
Table of Contents
Dynamo Kiev – Ukrainians daunted by La Liga task?
Into the Europa League Round of 16 for a fifth time, Dynamo Kiev are well versed in European competition but are nonetheless bidding to reach the last-eight for the first time in six years. Mircea Lucescu’s men must overcome Spanish opposition to make that a reality. Unfortunately, their record in such meetings – no win in 16 (D7 L9) having failed to win the last eight in Ukraine (D4 L4) – implies an uphill task awaits.
Last season’s domestic cup winners dropped down from the Champions League, where their only points – along with three of their four goals scored – came against the team they pipped to third place, Ferencvaros. They didn’t exactly cover themselves in glory on their most recent appearance in this tournament either, finishing third (W1 D4 L1) in a relatively weak section – behind Malmo and Copenhagen – in 2019/20.
However, they will be heartened by the performance over both legs in their previous tie. Dynamo ousting Club Brugge, who were another outfit to drop down from this season’s Champions League, 2-1 on aggregate. Vice-captain Vitaliy Buyalskiy netted the opening goal of the tie when those sides played out a 1-1 draw in Ukraine, before striking decisively in Belgium to earn his team a hard-fought 1-0 victory.
Villarreal – Momentum in this competition with Emery’s men?
Like their opponents, Villarreal are embarking on their fifth Round of 16 tie in the Europa League. The La Liga side will be emboldened by the fact only once before have they failed to progress any further. In fact, the only side to prevent The Yellow Submarine from drifting into the last-eight was fellow Spaniards and six-time record winners of this competition, Sevilla, who lifted the trophy in Germany in 2019/20.
This season’s tournament is once again strong, with the Premier League contingent unsurprisingly heading the outright betting. It is, however, a surprise to see Villarreal’s stock so low. Currently seventh in La Liga, after finishing fifth last term, former Arsenal manager Unai Emery is now at the helm and his charges barely put a foot out of place during the group phase, comfortably topping Group I (W5 D1).
Villarreal have now qualified for the Europa League knockout rounds on all eight group stage participations, and as as section winners four times. An impressive achievement, however, they possibly outdid themselves in the Round of 32 when making a tricky assignment look a cakewalk. Brushing aside Salzburg 4-1 on aggregate, dealing out a 2-0 defeat in the first leg over in Austria.
Don’t miss out on other Betting Tips & Predictions
Click here for more Betting Tips
Dynamo Kiev Vs Villarreal Betting Advice
Odds of 4/1 about Dynamo Kiev progressing at the expense of Villarreal, who are as short as 1/7 in the To Qualify market, speak volumes about how this tie is expected to unfold. Making the most of home advantage is clearly imperative for the Ukrainians, whose record versus La Liga opposition shows no win in their last sixteen attempts, having failed to win the previous eight here in Ukraine.
Dynamo Kiev Vs Villarreal – Key Facts:
- With no wins garnered from their past sixteen meetings (D7 L9) against Spanish opposition – having won none of the last eight (D4 L4) on home soil – Dynamo Kiev have it all to do in this first-leg.
- Visitors Villarreal are seeking their fourth away win in this season’s Europa League (W4 D1), conceding only twice across these matches while notching seven of their own.
- These clubs are meeting for the first time since they were paired together for the one and only instance, in 2004/05 UEFA Cup; Villarreal winning 2-0 in Spain but drawing 0-0 in Ukraine.
Unai Emery’s men travelled well in the group phase, picking up wins in difficult venues (3-1 vs Qarabag in Azerbaijan & 1-0 vs Sivasspor in Turkey). They were held in Israel by Maccabi Tel-Aviv, who qualified behind them, but that is their sole blip thus far having added a useful Salzburg to their list of away scalps when winning 2-0 in Austria in the Round of 32. Three of these encounters went Under 2.5 Goals, meanwhile.
Best Betting Odds – Dyanamo Kiev Vs Villarreal
Dynamo Kiev – 31/10 (Betfair)
Draw – 5/2 (Bet365)
Villarreal – Evens (BetFred)
