Big door or Europa League

Given the urgencies, it is convenient to specify: With Manchester United already classified as first in the group, Villarreal will go to the last 16 of the Champions League if they avoid defeat in Bergamo today. If he loses, he will be third and go to the Europa League. The problem is that the beans are played against a rival, the rubbery Atalanta, who will have the warmth of his dedicated fans and who share goals: The Italian team will pass if they win, they will be third if they draw and, if they fall, they will give up that privilege or play-off to the Young Boys. If tonight is not a final, it seems a lot (Follow the game live on As.com).

Villarreal faces the challenge with the anguish of LaLiga, where he is still stuck and wanders 13th. La fe la aporta Gerard, who arrives healthy at this decisive meeting and with the necessary filming after his trots in the Cup and his deviant aim in the Pizjuán. Without the striker, the Submarine has been losing many of its hallmarks, especially reflected in the clarity in front of goal. Emery will cling to the international’s ingenuity and, at last, will be able to pair him again with Danjuma. A pair that initially impresses and already swept the Young Boys (1-4), but that in reality he has not solved things much in LaLiga either: with them in one of the few eleven in which they have coincided, Villarreal hit it against Osasuna and Athletic. The coach’s doubt is whether to be brave with Chukwueze, before Yeremy is dismissed due to suspension and the horizon that is presented in the open field with cons, or bet on the more conservative option of pecking with Moi. The alignment will mark the way more than ever.

The Atalanta is no joke. While in the group stage they have only been able to win one match (1-0 to Cinderella), in Serie A they have chained ten games without losing and five wins in the last six games, with a hit on the table in San Paolo (2-3) last weekend. The offensive gale of Gasperini He was left unmarked in a match of 22 and in 15 of those games he scored two or more. It is not fame. It’s reality.

If Villarreal wants to get out of this compromised event, they will have to sharpen their aim a lot (seven games without a goal) and take risks (up to eight draws). Beyond the sports award of being among the 16 best teams on the continent for the third time in its history, there is the future. On the one hand, the one that remains this season from the hand of Emery, who is not discussed with a title in hand but who is already raining less praise since the Submarine already finished seventh in Spain in its premiere. And economic returns are also important with those views of tomorrow. Villarreal will win nine million euros more if they go to the round in Bergamo, which will help to round up a cumulative of almost 50 in these months. Returning to the Europa League would allow him to defend the title. But arrived here, with cold and even with snow, it is much more the fact of exploring new dreams. Endavant!