da winzada777： They are not as well known as their Spanish counterparts, but they could still cause Liverpool trouble.
da heads bet： This season has been better than expected for the men from the province of Castellon. In La Liga, they are 20 points behind Real Madrid and sit in fourth place, and on course for Champions League qualification.
Liverpool play their first leg of the tie away at the El Madrigal stadium on Thursday night and host the second leg at Anfield a week later. It will be the first time the clubs have met competitively, and will not be an easy game for the Anfield side.
The Spaniards, currently managed by Marcelino García Toral, have beaten Napoli, Bayer Leverkusen and Sparta Prague en route to the last four, seeing off the Czech club 6-3 on aggregate in the quarter-finals with four goals coming away from home. They have also beaten Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid at their 25,000-capacity home ground this term – former Tottenham striker Roberto Soldado scoring the only goal against Real. This is a side that have lost just once more than Atleti – who have the best defence in Europe – and twice more than Real Madrid or Barcelona in the current campaign. Watch out, Liverpool.
If you are into statistics, then it’s worth noting that Spanish clubs have won 45 of their last 48 ties against non-La Liga opponents. Liverpool fans, you still sitting comfortably?
They have had their own problems, though. After successful European campaigns, they were relegated in 2012. The new boss died on the day that he was appointed, but the club came back up at the first time of asking and they have recovered.
Marcelino is the latest coach to help the club overachieve, following on from the likes of Manuel Pellegrini as intelligent, considered leaders of this side.
“Four seasons ago, we were in La Segunda and now we’re in with the possibility of playing in a Europa League final and qualifying for the Champions League,” he said after eliminating Sparta Prague in the last round. For Villarreal, there’s no pressure or expectation weighing on the team’s shoulders.
Liverpool, with past and the expectations they have now, are under pressure.
Only Diego Simeone’s men have a better defence this year in La Liga than the Yellow Submarine, and the similarities are obvious with both teams operating with narrow four-man midfields in front of deep defensive lines. They are happy to play in their own half before springing lightning-quick counter-attacks.
A well-organised side where everyone knows their role, they also have a knack for comebacks, so that means whomever ends up leading in the semi-final, the tie will never be dead. Still okay, Liverpool fans?
As for their players, look out for the defensive playmaker, Bruno, a solid player who appears to initiate their play. Two ex-Barcelona wide midfielders, Jonathan Dos Santos and Denis Suarez, provide the danger from the flanks, and up front is the impressive Cedric Bakambu. He has been hailed as ‘the signing of the season’ by Marca recently and boasts 19 goals in his first camapign in Spain. He will be partnered by Premier League flop, Soldado, who will be keen to prove himself against an English club.
It will be interesting game over the two legs and a wonderful combination of red and bright yellow kits, but despite all that has been said about Villarreal, they can be beaten, and Jurgen Klopp’s experience in Europe has so far served Liverpool well… and could again.
Only two teams have scored more than Villarreal’s 22 goals in the tournament this season, so Liverpool will need a stunning defensive effort to overcome them.
Liverpool’s 163 chances created is the most in the tournament, though, with the Reds proving to be wasteful in front of goal. Indeed, against Dortmund at Anfield, Klopp’s men fired 21 shots, but only their four goals were on target.
Whoever wins this – wins the Europa League.
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