New opportunity. As happened on matchday 28, this afternoon Athletic has a good opportunity to get back into the continental fight. The lions failed on that occasion with the defeat against Betis at Villamarín. The same cannot happen today in the visit to Villarreal (La Cerámica, 6:30 p.m., with arbitration by From the Big Hill). Europe passes through the small town of Castellón when there are only eight games left to finish the championship.
The lions tied with Getafe at home after losing in Seville, but the victory against Elche last Sunday and the defeat of the yellow submarine in the Levante field has put the lions back in the fight. So much so that a victory this afternoon would allow them to overcome Emery’s men and rise to seventh place, which could give them the right to play for the old continent in the event that Betis wins the Cup final against Valencia on the 23rd at La Cartuja .
Athletic also has to take advantage of the fact that Villarreal is playing this game in the middle of their Champions League quarter-final tie. Last Wednesday they gave the surprise defeating Bayern Munich and even deserved more than the final 1-0, but the pass to the semifinals was pending the second leg that will be played next Tuesday at the Allianz Arena. At this point, possibly nobody is thinking about the appointment against the lions when three days away they have the opportunity to get into the crossroads that will decide one of the two finalists of the highest European competition.
Unai Emery will make changes
In any case, do not trust in the slightest. Unai Emery He will make a good number of changes with respect to his starting team, but he has enough squad to bring out a very competitive team and after drawing 1-1 in the first leg of the previous tie with Juventus, they thrashed Espanyol (5-1).
The groguets are also the fifth best team at home after adding 31 points in fifteen games. Only Osasuna (1-2) and Barça (1-3) have been able to take home the victory. Granada, Cádiz, Atlético and Real Madrid managed to draw and Alavés, Elche, Betis, Getafe, Rayo, Levante, Mallorca, Espanyol and Celta knelt down.
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The Castellón team is proving to be somewhat irregular in the League. It seemed that he had taken flight in the second round, but he comes from two consecutive defeats at home, Cádiz and Levante. His pending subject is outside the shelter of his public. As visitors they have only added 14 points so far.
The eleven that can present Emery is a complete unknown, while the logical thing is that Marcelino pull your block holder, with the low Inigo Martinez due to injury. The Spaniard confirmed yesterday that Danny Garcia He is still not ready to play from the start after missing the last four games due to pubic discomfort, so Winner Y Vesga They will once again be the chosen ones in the midfield.
The team could be made up of Unai Simon in goal; From Marcos, Vivian, Yeray Y Yuri Berchiche in defence; Berenguer, Winner, Vesga Y Muniain in midfield with Sancet e Iñaki Williams in attack. The one from Mendillori has earned the position after the great game he played against Elche. A line-up to add a victory that can give the final push on the way to Europe.
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