Can Villarreal get the better of their local rivals Valencia and thus take an advantage into the second leg of their Europa League quarter final clash? The Big Game Focus takes a look and you can bet on the match here.
The hosts will be hoping to get the better of their old foes and they are fancied to do that. Villarreal were somewhat lucky to beat Zenit in the previous round, after conceding 1.73 expected goals and recording just 0.95 for.
Valencia on the other hand have been anything but easy to face, despite their poor away record. Interestingly, they have conceded very little on their travels in the knockout of the competition.
Given the numbers posted by the two in their recent home and away engagements reflectively, we are likely to witness a low scoring affair but we might be surprised this being football.
Betting tips
Villarreal are undefeated in their last ten matches in the Europa League and Valencia are undefeated in their last five matches in the same competition. Backing a Home Win with the security of a Draw No Bet looks good at odds 2.15.
Villarreal have seen Under 2.5 goals in their last four home matches against Valencia in all competitions. And this looks likely to happen again when the two take to the pitch. You can back that at odds of 1.65 here.
Both Teams to Score No has landed in four of their last five encounters and from the look of things we might just settle for that tonight. Back Both Teams to Score No at odds of 1.80
Team news
Daniele Bonera is expected to miss out for Villarreal after coming off at the weekend early into the first half. Pablo Fornals and Alvaro González are expected to start after sitting out at the weekend through suspension. Jaume Costa, Miguelón, Javi Fuego, Manu Trigueros and Bruno Soriano remain injury concerns for the Yellow Submarine.
Daniel Parejo and Facundo Roncaglia will return from suspension but Los Che have now lost Carlos Soler to a one-match ban. Francis Coquelin and Rubén Sobrino are injury doubts for the visitors whilst Goncalo Guedes and Denis Cheryshev are in competition for a starting berth on the left flank.
Team news
Villarreal: Fernandez, Gonzalez, Mori, Ruiz, Gaspar, Caseres, Iborra, Fornals, Pedraza, Bacca, Moreno.
Valencia: Neto, Paccini, Garay, Diakhaby, Gaya, Wass, Parejo, Kondogbia, Cheryshev, Moreno, Mina.