Villarreal B-Fuenlabrada: second leg

Villarreal B will be able to field a stronger side for the return leg of this playoff, as Dani Raba will be in the team and Pau Torres’s first yellow card was overturned so he isn’t suspended. And Leo Suarez, who came on as a sub in the first leg match for his first action in quite a while, is available as well.

Fuenlabrada were as expected in the first leg—a very experienced side that defends well and can create some opportunities for goals, though that’s not exactly their forte. Without Raba in the first leg, and Fuenlabrada knowing Samu’s speed and counterattacking ability, we didn’t create much danger ourselves after the first 30 minutes or so of the away tie. With Raba back, and playing at home, we’ll be hoping for a better result.

Going into this, it seemed likely that if we were to lose out, it would be on away goals. I can see us going out on a 1-1 draw Sunday, but I believe if we score twice, it’ll be Villarreal B going to the final. Keep in mind Fuenlabrada have only scored more than one goal twice in their last 20 matches, and both of those were against teams in the bottom of their Segunda B group.

However, Villarreal B, who going into their last home match of the season had lost only once at home (to Alcoyano in February) dropped that match to Peralada, 3-0, and lost in the Mini two weeks ago to Athletic Club B 2-0. Our last home win was against Olot on April 7!

Prediction: Villarreal B 2-0 Fuenlabrada, 2-0 on aggregate.