Villarreal vs. Sevilla preview

Following their early Champions League exit, Villarreal must leave those woes behind and focus their ambitions on La Liga as they take on a newly renovated Sevilla side managed by Sampaoli.

Fran Escribá is still hoping to earn his first victory as the Submarine manager before the FIFA break. So far, the balance has being negative with 2 losses against Monaco and a tie against Granada.

Villarreal team news:

Escribá hasn’t announced the team squad for the match-date against Sevilla yet, nor it has been post in the Villarreal website... It should not come as a surprise as he did the same thing with Elche and Getafe. Escribá would typically release the squad list as late as the same day of the match. Mysterious guy that Escribá, eh?. Get accustomed to it, folks...

Cheryshev and Bakambu are still rehabilitating from their ailing injuries. It has been speculated that Bakambu could return in two weeks. Same for Denis.

Expect Jaume Costa returning to the starting XI.

Sevilla team news:

Adil Rami returns after leaving his injury woes behind. On a surprising note, Ukrainian winger Yevhen Konoplyanka has been left out by Sampaoli for the match against Villarreal being questioned for his poor latest performances. It is rumored Konoplyanka could leave Sevilla in the following days. Full-backs Escudero and Tremoulinas are still out with injury problems.

Sevilla squad list: Sergio Rico, José Antonio Caro, Mariano, Rami, Pareja, Kolo, Mercado, Kranevitter, Iborra, Nzonzi, Ganso, Correa, Sarabia, Franco Vázquez, Vitolo, Kiyotake, Ben Yedder y Vietto.

I’m expecting a goals galore spectacle at El Madrigal based on what we saw last week at Nervión. Sevilla tend to lose the ball too easily and leave plenty of open spaces, which will be important for Villarreal to exploit on the counter-attacking and breakaways.

Endavant Villarreal!.