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As is normal for me for early Sunday matches, I’ll be working while Villarreal play. So, if one of you wonderful people could drop the lineups in the comments I’d very much appreciate it. With Real Sociedad flat out losing on Saturday, this match provides an even bigger opportunity for the Yellow Submarine.
By the time our match starts, we’ll know where we stand in relation to Real Betis, who are taking on a desperate Vallodolid side, but here’s what it boils down to. If we win, we draw within one point of Real Sociedad in 5th. Betis will either be sitting on 53 points alongside La Real, 51 points, or at their current 50. Betis currently has five draws in a row and Valladolid has three, so I think that is the most likely outcome here. (Somehow, we’ve actually gained a point on Real Betis in the last five matches believe it or not, meanwhile we’ve lost one point to Real Sociedad, though we have a match in hand.)
Things are likely to be physical and ugly. We’re likely to have to face Sofian Chakla and Take Kubo, who both know our players well. This is one of those moments in the season where guys who have spent a lot of time on the bench need to step up, show some grit, and get a result.
To me, personally, it doesn’t make too much difference whether we finish in Europa League or Europa Conference places for next season for two reasons: One, I think the knockout rounds of the two competitions will have similar quality teams in them. Two, where we finish does not matter if we can finish off this current Europa League run with a trophy. However, something to keep an eye on is the fact that Granada currently have 45 points and face Cadiz right after our match finishes. We need to get something out of this one just for the simple fact that we don’t wanna be in a dog fight for 7th-8th.
Thoughts?
Let me know what you think in the comments below.