Zurich v Villarreal: Team News Match Preview

Zurich v Villarreal: Team News, Match Preview and Likely Line-Ups

Competition: UEFA Europa League Date: Thursday 6th November 2014 Venue: Stadion Letzigrund  Kick-off: 18:00 BST

Team News

Zurich will be without Gavranovic and Sadiku  are out with knee injuries, Kecovejic (thigh) and Rikan (groin) will also miss out the encounter.

For Villarreal Cani is out with an ankle injury, Jokic is still suffering from a knee injury and Musacchio is out with a hamstring injury.

Match Preview

Zurich host leaders of Group A Villarreal tonight in an important match for both, bottom placed Zurich need a win if they want any chances of qualifying, while a win for the Spaniards would almost guarantee a place in the last 32.

Zurich have only won one out of their last seven Europa League matches, and although they are currently second in the Swiss Super League – just two points behind leaders Basel – their last win came in mid-October while their last home win came on the 5th of October.

Villarreal have had a bad couple of weeks in La Liga, two consecutive losses (against Valencia and last weekend against Valencia) leave Marcelino’s men 7th in the table. However in the Europa League it’s a different story, their last loss in an Europa League came is over three years ago against Porto, since then the Yellow Submarine have won six games and drawn one, not only that but they have only conceded four goals. In the six games they won Villarreal haven’t scored less than three goals.

Zurich’s last win at home in the Europa League was in 2011, a 2-0 win against Vaslui. However Villarreal’s away record in the same competition is better, they have only lost two out of their last eight away games (4W 2D 2L).

The last time these two sides met each other was last October, Villarreal beat Zurich 4-1 at El Madrigal Stadium


Likely Line-Ups

Zurich

Da Costa, Djimsiti, Hef, Philippe Koch, Schonbchler, Chiumiento, Buff, Kukeli, Yapi Yapo, Chermiti, Chikhaoui

 Villarreal

Sergio Asenjo, Mario, Chechu Dorado, Víctor Ruíz, Gabriel, Espinosa, Jonathan dos Santos, Bruno, Moi Gómez, Vietto, Cherysev


Key Stats

Villarreal are very close qualifying for the next round of the Europa League

Zurich have only got one point from three games, while the Spanish side are top of group A with seven points.

Prediction

2-3