On Thursday night, Villarreal hosts Maccabi Haifa at the Estadio de la Ceramica in Group F of the Europa League.
Villarreal form guideThe Yellow Submarine have already sealed their place in the knockout stages of the Europa League. They are also three points behind group leaders Rennes while having a vastly inferior goal difference.
Marcelino’s team heads into this game on the back of a four-game unbeaten run in all competitions. Last time out, the home side drew 1-1 with Sevilla, with forward Ben Brereton Diaz seeing a last-gasp goal ruled out by VAR.
Villarreal recovered from a gameweek one defeat by Panathinaikos to record three straight victories in Group F of the competition. A 3-2 win over the Greek team last time out ensured their progress to the knockout stages.
Villarreal has been formidable on home soil in the Europa League, as the Spanish team has recorded nine straight home wins.
Maccabi Haifa form guideThe Israeli team can now not qualify for the knockout rounds of the Europa League. In fact, even a third-place finish and a place in the Europa Conference League play-offs look beyond them.
Maccabi have taken just one point from their four games in Group F of the competition. They are three points adrift of third-place Panathinaikos with an inferior goal difference.
The visitors haven’t just struggled in this season's competition, as they go into this game on the back of a five-game winless run in the Europa League, having suffered four defeats and picked up just one draw since their last spell in the competition in 2020.
Their main weakness in the Europa League recently has been in defence, as they have conceded at least two goals in four of their five winless games in the competition.
What am I backing?Villarreal’s form seems to be improving, and I am backing the Yellow Submarine to sink Maccabi’s chances of European football in the new year.
