UEFA Cup Group C Villarreal vs. Elfsborg

The Villarreal players coached by Manuel Pellegrini hope to seal their passage to the next round of Euope’s second competition and at the same time take their minds off their little upset in the league. The draw at home to Almeria and the defeat away to Valladolid (six points which were well within their reach) has got the nerves of fans and team alike tingling with anticipation. This game can’t come soon enough for Villarreal, who in priori shouldn’t have any problems at all in overcoming the Swedish minnows. Elfsborg are sitting at the bottom of group C after drawing their opening match by one goal apiece to AEK Athens, then losing the following two matches; including a six one to demolition by leaders Fiorentina. They now need to surprise Villarreal in Spain and hope the other games go their way in order to have any hope of continuing to the next round.

Pellegrini will again use team rotations for this game, which so far this season have worked out pretty well. Keeper Diego Lopez is back in goal, and Uruguayan defender Diego Godin looks set to have won a place in the back four. The Spanish side have now gone eight games in European competitions without losing at home (if you don’t count the Intertoto) and look set to make it nine in this match. Elfsborg started their season very well but after being dumped out of the Champions League qualifiers by Valencia, have gone from bad to worse, ending the Swedish season in fourth spot when the league finished in October.  

I’m going for a clear Villarreal win here which means that the Spanish side will progress to the next round while Elfsborg’s season ends in a definite shade of grey. They have a long shot of qualifying but I doubt very much whether they will be able to get anything form this game.

Prediction: Home win (3-1)