Villarreal prepare for Valencia

Villarreal are preparing to host Valencia in the first leg of their Europa League quarterfinal on Thursday. Santi Cazorla, who faced the press today (well, yesterday in Spain by now) said that while of course our main priority is staying in the Primera, we’ve been able to pull upsets in the last two rounds and hopefully we can do so again. Of course, one disadvantage is that Valencia is a team that knows us very well, unlike Zenit and Sporting Lisbon.

A reminder that the other ties are Arsenal v Napoli, Benfica v Eintracht Frankfurt, and Slavia Prague v Chelsea. The first two ties are considered relatively even, Chelsea are overwhelming favorites in theirs, and Valencia are considered favorites against us. Which makes sense, but again, that’s why you play the games.

As far as Thursday is concerned, Jaume Costa is still a doubt, we don’t expect to see Daniele Bonera, Javi Fuego, Miguelón, or Trigueros (or Bruno). Carlos Soler is red-carded for Valencia and Rubén Sobrino is out.

More detailed preview coming tomorrow.