After a shocking defeat to Deportivo Alavés, the Yellow Submarine are back on European waters, aiming to overturn a two-goal deficit for a chance to reach their first-ever UEFA Champions League final. The second-leg of the UCL semi-final clash between Villarreal CF and Liverpool FC kicks off at 20:00 (GMT+1) on Tuesday, May 3, at Estadio de la Cerámica.
Villarreal were stunned in a 2-1 loss to Deportivo Alavés at the Mendizorroza over the weekend. Samuel Chukwueze (47’) had offered the Yellow Submarine a lifeline, after reducing a two-goal deficit to one, following goals from Víctor Laguardia (4’) and Gonzalo Escalante (31’). However, Villarreal were unable to complete the comeback. "What was key was who scored the first goal, because it was going to be mentally very important. They did so, and they made the game into the game they wanted it to be," Unai Emery said following the defeat. The loss leaves the club with back-to-back defeats across all competitions, DWWLL. The Yellow Submarine now look to overturn a 2-0 defeat from last Wednesday’s semi-final first leg for a chance to reach their first UEFA Champions League final, scheduled for Saturday, May 28, at the Stade de France. "We resisted defensively as much as we could [in the first leg] so as to have options in the second game. It will be different at La Cerámica. We will test them much more," Unai Emery said ahead of Tuesday’s game. Villarreal have won three of the seven European fixtures in which they have lost the first leg away. Over the weekend against Alavés, Unai lined up a 4—2—3—1 with Boulaye Dia at the top of the shape. However, a switch to the 4—4—2 with Arnaut Danjuma and Gerard Moreno, who is expected to make a return, in attack is expected for this reverse fixture against Liverpool.
The La Liga clash, Deportivo Alavés vs. Villarreal CF, kicks off at 13:00 (GMT+1) on Saturday, April 30, at the Mendizorrotza.
Villarreal suffered a 2-0 loss to Liverpool in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final clash at Anfield. An own goal from Pervis Estupiñán in the 53rd minute paved the way for a Sadio Mane (55’) goal two minutes later. "In the semi-finals, you have to go up against these very powerful opponents, and the surprise factor was diluted for us," Unai Emery said after the game. "It was a match that we wanted to win but weren’t able to," the Villarreal boss added. Back in LaLiga, the Yellow Submarine are coming off a 2-0 victory over Valencia at El Madrigal. The victory leaves Villarreal in 7th place on the La Liga table, having picked up 52 points from 14W, 10D, and 9L. Villarreal have back-to-back victories and are looking to make it three in a row, LLDWW, when they take on Alavés. However, El Submarino Amarillo have lost two of their last three visits to Basque sides in LaLiga [1W & 2L]. With the chances of reaching the UEFA Champions League final increasingly unlikely after the 2-0 defeat to Liverpool, a top-six finish for any form of European football in the upcoming campaign remains the sole objective of the club. Unai Emery’s 4—4—2 could see the Cobra, Arnaut Danjuma, and Samuel Chukwueze in attack once again. Meanwhile, Gerard Moreno (hamstring) remains doubtful for the weekend’s game, alongside Alberto Moreno.
After wobbling to a hard-fought Origi-inspired win over the Toffees in the Merseyside derby, the Reds are back on European soil against the Yellow Submarine, looking to leave a foot in the UEFA Champions League final. The UCL semi-final clash between Liverpool FC and Villarreal CF kicks off at 20:00 (GMT+1) on Wednesday, April 27 at Anfield.
The Cobra struck twice against the Bats, leaving Villarreal with a 2-0 win over Valencia in the mid-week round of La Liga fixtures. A brace from the Nigerian-Dutch striker Arnaut Danjuma (10’ P. & 17’) decided the outcome of Tuesday’s Derbi de la Comunitat. The Yellow Submarine are unbeaten in five games across all competitions, WDDWW, ahead of their second appearance in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, after the first, which dates back over a decade and a half and ended in defeat against English opposition. Unai Emery aims to avoid a repeat after successful stints this season against Juventus and Bayern Munich. The 50-year-old lined up the 4—4—2 with Arnaut Danjuma and Gerard Moreno in attack against the Bavarians in the quarter-final second leg and is expected to stick with the same shape and personnel for this Wednesday’s clash against Liverpool. However, Gerard Moreno remains doubtful due to a muscle injury.
The Derbi de la Comunitat, Villarreal CF vs. Valencia CF, kicks off at 20:30 (GMT+1) on Tuesday, April 19, at Estadio de la Cerámica.
Villarreal got off to a great start over the weekend, scoring twice in the first twenty minutes in a 2-1 victory against Getafe at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez. Gerard Moreno (7’) struck with Villarreal’s first before bagging an assist for Manu Trigueros (16’). But a fine finish from Enes Ünal (63’) saw the two-goal lead cut down to one, minutes after the hour mark, until full-time. However, it was a costly win for the Yellow Submarine, who lost Gerard Moreno to injury. The 30-year-old was hauled off in the 61st minute of the weekend game against the Deep Blue Ones. "It’s a muscle injury, let’s see how serious it is," Unal Emery said after the game. "We have to try to continue with patience so that he recovers. Repeated muscle injuries are frustrating. That’s the negative note from tonight," the Villarreal boss added. The Yellow Submarine now sets its sights on this mid-week local derby, looking to pick up back-to-back victories, WLLDW, after Saturday’s narrow win. Villarreal sits in 7th place, 6 points outside European places while having 49 points from 13W, 10D, and 9L. A much-needed win here would move Villarreal to within three points of sixth place ahead of the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final clash against Liverpool next Wednesday. Unai Emery has stuck to the 4—4—2 for a major portion of the season and is expected to do so again on Tuesday against Valencia. Arnaut Danjuma is expected to deputize in place of the injured Gerard Moreno, alongside Paco Alcácer in attack.
The La Liga fixture, Getafe CF vs. Villarreal CF kicks off at 20:00 (GMT+1) on Saturday, April 16, at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez.
Villarreal were over the moon following their 2-1 aggregate win over Bayern Munich, which sent them through to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. "We are going to enjoy the semifinals," Emery said after the 1-1 draw in the second leg of the UCL quarter-finals. "We are not here to be told how nice we are, that we come from a small town. We are here because we have a solid project. We have to continue to work and remain humble," the Villarreal boss added. The Yellow Submarine are looking to return to winning ways (LWLLD) following last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Athletic Club. Villarreal have scored six goals in their last two visits to the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez in LaLiga, and are looking to hit the back of the net once again on Saturday against Getafe. A 4—4—2 formation with Paco Alcácer and Moi Gómez in attack is expected from Unai Emery for this clash against Getafe. Meanwhile, Alberto Moreno remains sidelined with an ACL injury.
Following the weekend’s narrow win over FC Augsburg, the Reds take on the Yellow Submarine this Tuesday, looking to overturn a first-leg one-goal deficit on European soil for the first time since 2015. The reverse fixture of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, F.C. Bayern Munich vs. Villarreal C.F., kicks off at 20:00 (GMT+1) on April 12 at the Allianz Arena.
Villarreal picked up a 1-1 draw against Athletic Club at the weekend and are now looking to defend their one-goal advantage in the UCL quarter-finals against Bayern Munich on Tuesday. The Yellow Submarine are unbeaten in their last two games across all competitions, WLLWD, ahead of their first away game against a German club since a goalless draw at Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League (2015/16). Villarreal's record over two legs in the knockout phase against German opposition is 3W & 1L. Furthermore, the Spanish outfit has emerged victorious in 15 of the 16 European episodes in which they won the first leg at home and are looking to add to that tally on Tuesday. Unai Emery lined up the 4—4—2 with Arnaut Danjuma and Gerard Moreno in attack in the first leg and is expected to stick with the same shape and personnel for this second leg against Bayern Munich.
The La Liga fixture, Villarreal CF vs. Athletic Club kicks off at 17:30 (GMT+1) on Saturday, April 9, at Estadio de la Cerámica.
On Wednesday night, Villarreal bagged an impressive 1-0 win over the Bundesliga champions, Bayern Munich, in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals on home soil. A well-constructed goal left Arnaut Danjuma (8’) tucking the ball away for a Villarreal-lead inside the first ten minutes of the game. The Yellow Submarine held on to the narrow lead despite spirited attempts by the German outfit to draw level. "I'm happy, we need to feel that we already had a presence against this level of opponent," Unai Emery said following the win. "I'm a bit annoyed that we did not score another goal. We don't want to stay here; we have real options to be in the semi-finals," the Villarreal boss added. Back in LaLiga, Villarreal were stunned in a 2-0 defeat to Levante at Estadio Ciudad de Valencia, leaving the club with back-to-back defeats, WLWLL, and in 7th place, while having 45 points after 12W, 9D, & 9L. A victory here would keep Villarreal in the same spot, while a defeat to eighth-placed Athletic Club [44 points] would see the latter move into seventh place. However, Villarreal have failed to win in their last six LaLiga games against Athletic since a 3-0 away victory which dates back to September 2018. A 4—4—2 formation with Gerard Moreno and Arnaut Danjuma in attack is expected from Unai Emery for Saturday’s game.
Following a shocking defeat to the Frogs, the Yellow Submarine sets course for the Star of the South, having sailed into the murky waters of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2009. Villarreal C.F. vs. F.C. Bayern Munich kicks off at 20:00 (GMT+1) on Wednesday, April 6, at Estadio de la Cerámica.
An unbelievable 2-0 defeat at the hands of bottom-placed Levante at the weekend left jaws agape, as a brace from José Luis Morales (69’ & 90’+1) tipped the scales of victory over and in favor of the Frogs. "The match against Bayern will be a very different game. Against Levante, we were close to their box, but we lacked a cutting edge. These defeats away from home damage you. Now we need to focus on Wednesday's game," Unai Emery said. The loss leaves the Yellow Submarine with back-to-back defeats in five games across all competitions, LWWLL. This is Villarreal's first game against German opposition since they beat Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the 2015/16 edition of the UEFA Europa League round-of-16. Villarreal have won five of their 12 games against Bundesliga sides [5W, 4D, & 3L] and are hoping to be the side to take on either Benfica or Liverpool in the semi-finals. Unai Emery lined up the 4—4—2 formation for the weekend’s game against Levante, leaving Arnaut Danjuma and Gerard Moreno in attack. Emery is expected to keep the shape in place while replacing Moreno with Giovani Lo Celso in attack. Meanwhile, Alberto Moreno remains doubtful for Wednesday’s clash against the Reds.
The Derbi Valenciano, Levante UD vs. Villarreal CF, kicks off at 15:15 (GMT+1) on Saturday, April 2, at the Estadi Ciutat de València.
Villarreal picked up a 1-0 defeat to Cádiz right before the international break. Having only 1 shot on target out of 3, a last-gasp effort from Cádiz’s Rubén Sobrino (90’) left Villarreal with their second defeat in five games, WWLWL. However, the club remains in 7th place with 45 points from 12W, 9D, and 8L, looking to return to winning ways at the end of this weekend. The Yellow Submarine have lost back-to-back away games in LaLiga, - both 1-0, having won their previous two on the road before the double. El Submarino Amarillo are now looking to avoid three consecutive away defeats, having last seen one in November 2019. Unai Emery has set his sights on bringing the Nigerian forward, Emmanuel Dennis, to the club in a summer deal that could see £25M exchange hands. Meanwhile, the 50-year-old is expected to line up the conventional 4—4—2 with Giovani Lo Celso and Arnaut Danjuma in attack for Saturday's Derbi del Turia. Alberto Moreno has been ruled out of the season with an ACL injury.
The LaLiga fixture, Cadiz CF vs. Villarreal CF, kicks off at 16:15 (GMT+1) on Sunday, March 20, at the Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla.
Villarreal cruised into the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals after sweeping the Old lady off her feet in a 3-0 win on Wednesday. Both sides had come into the duel of ninety minutes with a 1-1 draw, but the Yellow Submarine fired three past the Girlfriend of Italy in the second leg round-of-16 clash to berth safely in the last eight after a 4-1 aggregate win. Villarreal will now take on Bayern Munich on April 6 in the first leg of their quarter-final clash in the round-of-eight. Back in LaLiga, the Yellow Submarine picked up a 1-0 win over Celta Vigo last weekend at Estadio de la Cerámica. Villarreal, in 7th place, sits outside the top-six by two points, while having 45 points from 12W, 9D, & 7L. The club has picked up 10 points from a possible 15, DWWLW, and are looking to leave the Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla with back-to-back victories. Villarreal has an unbeaten league run on the road against Cadiz which dates back to September 1971. Unai Emery could line up the 4—4—2 formation for Sunday’s game, leaving Giovani Lo Celso and Arnaut Danjuma in attack. Meanwhile, Paco Alcácer is ruled out of this fixture with a muscle injury, along with Alberto Moreno.