Anderlecht vs Villarreal Predictions

• Villarreal have won 11 of their last 17 European away games
• Anderlecht have lost four of their last five home matches against Spanish opposition
• Villarreal have kept a clean sheet in half of all their away games this season

Spaniards finding their form at right time

Villarreal are the favourites to win the Europa Conference League and can justify their status as top dogs in the outright market by winning the first-leg of their last-16 tie with Anderlecht.

The Yellow Submarine have been a throne in the side of Europe’s big clubs for nearly two decades and continue to surprise, reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League last season having won the Europa League the year before.

While they lack the architect of several of their most famous wins in ex-head coach Unai Emery, they are still worthy favourites to win this competition and arrive in Brussels seemingly having emerged from a minor slump.

Back-to-back wins have boosted their chances of European qualification via the league, while they made light work of the Conference League group stages, topping the pile with four wins from six games.

Anderlecht’s luck threatening to run out

Villarreal lost their final group game away to Lech Poznan but have generally been solid travellers, avoiding defeat in 14 of their last 17 away European games, and look a cut above Anderlecht.

The Belgians have ridden their luck to reach the last-16 stage, edging out Ludogorets on penalties in the playoff round having squeezed through the group stages.

Domestically, they reside in mid-table in the Pro League after a loss to Gent at the weekend, leaving them 31 points off top spot and Villarreal are fancied to chalk up an eighth away win to nil of the season in a manner benefitting their status of experienced European campaigners.