A euphoric Villarreal receives Juventus in the elite
MADRID, 21 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Villarreal CF hosts Juventus this Tuesday at the Estadio de la Cerámica (9:00 pm) in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 where many see the ‘Vecchia Signora’ as favourites, although the ‘Yellow Submarine’ arrives At a good time, euphoric, at this reunion with a round of 16 of the ‘Champions’.
It has been thirteen years of waiting until Villarreal can see a Champions League round of 16 match again. A long absence of the anthem of the ‘Champions’, which will now present as a rival a Juventus that is living history in the competition, and which the people from Castellón will try to eliminate in Turin.
But, first, they must play a good game in front of a ‘grogueta’ fans that will be euphoric, like a team that has just thrashed Granada in LaLiga Santander (1-4) and added three wins in the last four games. And, the one that was not a victory, was a draw against the leader Real Madrid.
Villarreal arrives at this European event at a good time, in sixth position and three points behind the ‘Champions League’. Perhaps the start of the season was not the best, but right now Unai Emery’s team has the willpower, and confidence, to try to break a ‘Juve’ that is not dominating like before in Italy, fourth in Serie A.
It will be Juventus’ first visit to the Ceramics. The ‘groguet’ feud will experience its third round of 16 in the Champions League, and hopes to see his team make a ‘three of three’. Previously, they eliminated Rangers and Panathinaikos in 2006 and 2009, respectively. Now, as Emery points out, the challenge is “majorcule”.
The ‘Juve’ arrives with losses of importance like those of Giorgio Chiellini, Paulo Dybala or Federico Chiesa. But Massimiliano Allegri saw the team strengthened with the arrival of Denis Zakaria, a strong midfielder, and especially Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic, who will make his debut as a ‘bianconero’ in the ‘Champions’ at Villarreal.
Although Vlahovic will not be able to be accompanied by Paulo Dybala, injured, at the forefront, the Italian coach confirmed that he will team up with Spanish international Álvaro Morata, who has scored two goals in his last four games against Villarreal in all competitions.
And Unai Emery will also lose weight, such as striker Gerard Moreno (calf injury), Francis Coquelin (Achilles tendon) or Rubén Peña (shoulder). Despite this, maximum confidence in the team and in being able to display better continental football than in a group stage where they suffered more than expected to go through as second in the group, behind Manchester United and eliminating Atalana and Young Boys.
MORAL SUPPORT FOR LLANEZA IN CERAMICS
On the other hand, the Castellón club announced that they will continue the gestures of support for Villarreal’s vice president, José Manuel Llaneza, who announced a few days ago that he suffers from leukemia. In the south end, there will be a fixed banner in honor of the manager of the ‘Submarino’, while at minute 12, the fans belonging to the animation stands located in the corner will raise a banner in his honor.
DATASHEET.
–POSSIBLE ALIGNMENTS.
VILLARREAL CF: Rulli; Foyth, Albiol, Pau Torres, Pedraza; Capoue, Lo Celso, Parejo; Danjuma, Chukwueze and Moreno.
JUVENTUS: Szczesny; De Sciglio, Danilo, De Ligt, Alex Sandro; Cuadrado, Locatelli, Zakaria, Rabiot; Morata y Vlahovic.
–ARBITRO: Daniel Siebert (ALE).
–STADIUM: Ceramic Stadium.
–TIME: 21.00/Movistar Champions League.