Europa League: Villarreal Face Awkward Task, Marseille Must Win
By Kevin Kelly
Europa League preview for two key games, with both Villarreal and Marseille playing in intriguing ties this Thursday evening.
Dinamo Minsk vs. Villarreal
Villarreal travel to Belarus on Thursday to take on the awkward opposition of Dinamo Minsk, at the Dinamo-Yuni Stadium in a highly anticipated Europa League Group E clash.
Dinamo Minsk have endured a torrid Europa League campaign this season, losing all three matches so far.
The Belarusians sit bottom of Group E, having conceded seven and scored none. Their chances of qualification are very slim.
Dinamo would require three wins from their remaining three matches, and hope results elsewhere go their task. A tall order to say the least.
Domestically Dinamo are one of the bigger fish in a small pond and in general enjoy good form, but remain in 2nd place, and a whopping 12 points behind Bate Borisov, now a Champions League regular.
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Notably, Dinamo Minsk’s only previous encounters with Spanish clubs were a pair of draws against Real Sociedad de Fútbol in the 1987/88 European Cup Winners’ Cup second round
Villarreal meanwhile will loom to make it three consecutive wins in the Europa League, following their opening day loss to Rapid Vienna.
The Yellow Submarine sit 2nd in Group E, three points behind the Austrians. With current champions Sevilla as the benchmark, the Spanish side will surely have the highest of aspirations for this season’s competition.
Domestically Villarreal have enjoyed a successful season to date, though their form was dissipated of late, dropping out of the top four, having accrued just four points from a possible 12 available.
Villarreal registered an impressive 15 goals in last season’s UEFA Europa League group stage, five of them away from home.
They scored at least once in all 12 of their European matches in 2014/15: 29 goals in total.
Dinamo Minsk vs. Villarreal Match Prediction
Thursday poses a truly must-win for Dinamo, while a draw theoretically keeps their hopes alive, they need to win if they have true aspirations to save their floundering European campaign.
However, the Spanish outfit seem too strong offensively for Dinamo, with a loss on the cards for the Belarusians
Marseille vs. S.C. Braga
Villarreal travel to Belarus on Thursday to take on the awkward opposition of Dinamo Minsk, at the Dinamo-Yuni Stadium in a highly anticipated Europa League Group E clash.
Dinamo Minsk have endured a torrid Europa League campaign this season, losing all three matches so far.
The Belarusians sit bottom of Group E, having conceded seven and scored none. Their chances of qualification are very slim.
Dinamo would require three wins from their remaining three matches, and hope results elsewhere go their task. A tall order to say the least.
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Domestically Dinamo are one of the bigger fish in a small pond and in general enjoy good form, but remain in 2nd place, and a whopping 12 points behind Bate Borisov, now a Champions League regular.
Notably, Dinamo Minsk’s only previous encounters with Spanish clubs were a pair of draws against Real Sociedad de Fútbol in the 1987/88 European Cup Winners’ Cup second round
Villarreal meanwhile will loom to make it three consecutive wins in the Europa League, following their opening day loss to Rapid Vienna.
The Yellow Submarine sit 2nd in Group E, three points behind the Austrians. With current champions Sevilla as the benchmark, the Spanish side will surely have the highest of aspirations for this season’s competition.
Domestically Villarreal have enjoyed a successful season to date, though their form was dissipated of late, dropping out of the top four, having accrued just four points from a possible 12 available.
Villarreal registered an impressive 15 goals in last season’s UEFA Europa League group stage, five of them away from home.
They scored at least once in all 12 of their European matches in 2014/15: 29 goals in total.
Dinamo Minsk vs. Villarreal Match Prediction
Thursday poses a truly must-win for Dinamo, while a draw theoretically keeps their hopes alive, they need to win if they have true aspirations to save their floundering European campaign.
However, the Spanish outfit seem too strong offensively for Dinamo, with a loss on the cards for the Belarusians