FC Zurich vs Villarreal Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

These sides met on match-day one and it was much closer than many expected with Villarreal edging out the Swiss side 2-1. Zurich are unbeaten in 14 games in all competitions since then so there is plenty of reason to expect this to be another close contest. Admittedly they do play their league football in the Swiss Second Tier after a surprise relegation last term but they’ve more than held their own in this Europa League group, and the ease of some of their league games has probably helped them prepare better for it.

Where the likes of Villarreal have been at times fielding weakened teams in the Europa League, Zurich have been doing that in the league and they come into this game in 2nd place and in with a chance of qualifying. Both sides are tied on 5 points though so this is going to be a pivotal match and it’s unlikely Villarreal will take as many chances with their team selection as they have done in previous games.

Villarreal have just hit a bit of a sticky patch after a really good overall start to the season. They are still 4th in La Liga and in with a good chance of progressing in this competition but 3 defeats from their last 4 games suggest they are someway short of their best right now. One of those defeats was a shock 2-1 home defeat to Osmanlıspor in the last round of Europa League fixtures, so they have far from dominated this group, like you may have expected them to do after an excellent run to the Semi-Finals last season.

Both sides come into this match having drawn 2 of their 4 opening group games and no Europa League game involving either of these sides this term has been settled by more than a goal. Therefor,e we have plenty of reason to expect another close game here. Villarreal are the favourites despite being away from home but aren’t playing particularly well right now and have kept just 1 clean sheet in their last 6 games, so backing the draw at 21/10 could be the best approach here.