by Villarreal CF faces Greek Panathinaikos this Thursday in its fourth match of the group stage of the Europa League which, if won, would certify its classification to the next phase of the competition if Maccabi Haifa also does not win its match. bottom, against the leader Rennes.
The people of Castellón face this match after adding two victories and one defeat, and with one game less than Rennes and Panathinaikossince they have yet to play the postponed duel against Maccabi Haifa, which they will play on December 6.
This Thursday’s in turn means Marcelino’s reunion with the European competition at the helm of Villarrealto which curiously is added the reunion of the Asturian coach with the team that eliminated him in the previous phase of the Champions League this season.
In front of the Olympique de Marseille, the coach saw how Panathinaikos left them out in the penalty shootoutso this will be their third confrontation with the Greek team in the current campaign.
After adding two victories on his return to the Castellón club, the coach stated in the press conference prior to the match that not many changes will be made to the starting eleven, given the importance of the match.
In the casualties chapter, The injured Aïssa Mandi, Denis Suárez, Yeremy Pino and Alex Sorloth are still out.; While the good news is the recovery of the footballers Mateo Gabbia and Francis Coquelin, although neither will be from the initial game.
For its part, Panathinaikos comes into the clash against Villarreal after a defeat against Aris Thessaloniki (0-2) last Sunday, although ‘the greens’ remain first in the Greek league with 28 points, one ahead of Olympiacos.
Serbian coach Ivan Jovanović’s team aims to defeat the yellow submarine in Spain, as they did in Greece (2-0) on the first day of the group stage, to have their qualification almost certain, since their last match It will be at home against the bottom of the table, the Israeli Maccabi Haifa.
The Greeks were defeated in the last two rounds by French side Rennes, both as visitors (3-1) and at home (1-2), but they come to the clash prepared to give their all and without any casualties, knowing that this is the crucial match for them. No major changes are expected in the team’s lineup compared to the first game against Villarreal.
Probable lineups:
Villarreal: Reina, Femenía, Albiol, Cuenca, Alberto Moreno; Comesaña, Parejo, Trigueros, Álex Baena; Gerardo and Morales.
Panathinaikos: Brignoli; Kotsiras, Schenkeveld, Magnússon, Mladenović, Arão, Vilhena; Bernardo, Palacios, Mancini; Ioannidis.
Referee: Ivan Kruzliak (SLO).
Stadium: The ceramic.
hour: 9:00 p.m.
