Will the yellow submarine defy the Bavarian superiority?
It is a special game for Unai Emery. The Villarreal FC coach will be on the bench for the 50th time in the Champions League on Wednesday. His team will do everything they can to present him with a successful match on this anniversary, but Bayern Munich are expected to be a very tough opponent at the Estadio de la Ceramica in the first leg of the quarter-final.
Bayern are certainly one of the favourites in the Champions League and will be looking to live up to that role in this first leg in Spain. After all, the Munich side have not lost in the Champions League for four games on Spanish soil, including their most recent clear win in Barcelona in the group stage.
For the yellow submarine, it is a comeback in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. The last time the Spaniards were in this round was 13 years ago. Unai Emery’s team is considered the clear underdog by the bookmakers, but at least they are the reigning Europa League winners. Nevertheless, the prediction for the clash between Villarreal and Bayern is clearly in favour of the German champions progressing to the next round.
We even think that the first leg will also go to the Munich side. The Spaniards have only won one of their six games in the quarter-finals of the top division. That should be a clear indication that you should not place a bet on a home win for the yellow submarine in this match between Villarreal and Bayern.
Villarreal – Statistics & current form
It will be a very difficult number for Villarreal FC to play internationally again next season. Unai Emery’s team is currently in seventh place in La Liga. They would have to climb one place to at least be eligible for the Conference League, but Real Sociedad are three points behind them, with the Basques still having a game in hand.
Ceramica Fortress
Lately, they have fallen a little behind in the standings, losing three of their last four league games. In between, however, they were able to almost sensationally eliminate Juventus Torino in the top flight. Whoever beats Manchester United in the Europa League final and knocks out the Old Lady in the Champions League will also fancy their chances of progressing against FC Bayern.
After all, there has been no defeat at the Ceramica for nine games and among the opponents were Real and Atletico Madrid as well as Juventus Turin.
That is probably one reason why the Spaniards’ self-confidence is extremely pronounced ahead of this first leg against Bayern. Another indication of this, however, is the good personnel situation in Unai Emery’s team. As things stand at the moment, only left-back Alberto Moreno will still be missing after tearing his cruciate ligament. Otherwise, all players should be available.
Predicted line-up of Villarreal:
Rulli – Foyth, Raul Albiol, Alfonso Pedraza – Capoue, Parejo, Yeremy, Lo Celso – Gerard, Danjuma – Coach: Emery
Last matches played by Villarreal:
La Liga
04/02 2022 – Levante 2 – 0 Villarreal FC
03/20 2022 – Cadiz 1 – 0 Villarreal FC
Champions League Final
03/16 2022 – Juventus FC 0 – 3 FC Villarreal
La Liga
03/12 2022 – Villarreal FC 1 – 0 Celta Vigo
03/05 2022 – Osasuna Pamplona 1 – 0 Villarreal FC
Bayern – Statistics & current form
Bayern are very lucky that the competition in the Bundesliga keeps getting in their own way. Therefore, with a nine-point lead over second place, they no longer have to focus completely on the championship. There is hardly anything standing in the way of the tenth title in a row in the Bundesliga. All the more reason for the Munich team to put in their best performance in the Champions League.
Undefeated in the top flight
First and foremost, of course, Robert Lewandowski, who has already scored twelve times in the eight games he has played in the top flight so far this year. FC Bayern has now been unbeaten for eight games. That’s why we’re holding back on predicting a home win between Villarreal and Bayern on Wednesday, especially as the Munich side are completely undefeated in the top flight this season and have won seven of their last eight games.
Last weekend, the FCB’s game in Freiburg was dominated by a change of players. At short notice, the Munich team was on the field with twelve players. However, this circumstance will probably have no effect on the outcome of the match. After initial difficulties, Julian Nagelsmann’s team prevailed with a commanding 4:1.
Leon Goretzka initially gave his team a 1:0 lead before Freiburg equalised. Serge Gnabry, Kingsley Coman and Marcel Sabitzer, however, made the success stand up in the end. Munich will be able to start with their best formation on Tuesday. Only Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting is out for this match after a positive test.
Predicted Bayern line-up:
Neuer – Pavard, Upamecano, Süle, Hernandez – Kimmich, Goretzka – Gnabry, Müller, Coman – Lewandowski – Coach: Nagelsmann
Last matches played by Bayern:
Bundesliga
04/02 2022 – SC Freiburg 1 – 4 Bayern Munich
03/19 2022 – Bayern Munich 4 – 0 Union Berlin
03/12 2022 – Hoffenheim 1 – 1 Bayern Munich
Champions League Final
03/08 2022 – Bayern Munich 7 – 1 RB Salzburg
Bundesliga
03/05 2022 – Bayern Munich 1 – 1 Bayer Leverkusen
Villarreal – Bayern Direct comparison / H2H balance
It has only happened twice before that Villarreal FC and Bayern Munich have crossed paths. It was just over ten years ago when they faced each other in the group stage of the Champions League. Bayern won both direct duels and therefore still have a spotless record and a clean sheet against the yellow submarine.
The first leg in Spain was won 2-0 by the Munich side, while the return leg saw Bayern prevail 3-1 at home. Franck Ribery (2) and Mario Gomez scored for the Munich team. Jonathan de Guzman scored the equaliser. Villarreal were eliminated from the group without points, while Bayern lost to Chelsea in the legendary “Finale dahoam”.
Villarreal – Bayern Tip
Bayern Munich are the big favourites in this clash and a lot would have to happen if the German record champions were to miss out on a place in the semi-finals of the top flight. After all, FC Bayern is still unbeaten in the Champions League this season and has won seven out of eight games. Moreover, the Munich team is generally in good shape.
However, nine home games in a row without defeat for Villarreal FC prove that the stakes are very high at the Estadio de la Ceramico. On the other hand, they have recently lost two away games in La Liga without scoring a goal of their own. That’s why we reckon that you should be successful in the clash between Villarreal and Bayern Munich with a bet on an away win.
Even though the Spaniards beat Juventus Turin in the last 16 and won the Europa League final against Manchester United last season, FC Bayern are a different matter at the moment. That is why we have decided to play the first leg between Villarreal and Bayern with betting odds on an away win.
