Villarreal take on the visitors Juventus in the round 2 match of UEFA Champions League group stage.The match will be played on Wednesday, October 1st at Estadio de la Ceramica (Villarreal).
Villarreal are trying to maintain a high level. The Yellow Submarine under Unai Emery won their first major trophy, the Europa League, and then reached the Champions League semifinals. But after Emery left, the club declined, and two seasons ago the ambitious side even missed out on European competition. Marcelino returned to the dugout but did not have enough time to deliver immediate progress. In the following campaign, however, Villarreal collected 70 points. Athletic Club had the same tally but finished fourth, while Villarreal in fifth still earned a Champions League spot, which was already guaranteed for Spain by spring. Their group stage began with a defeat to Tottenham, decided by an early own goal. And in La Liga there have already been dropped points and even defeats. Still, overall the team have been playing respectable football. Villarreal’s attacking play remains sharp, with Gerard Moreno and Sørloth leading the line effectively. Yet defensive lapses, especially on set pieces, continue to cost them valuable results.
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Juventus had high hopes for last season. Despite Massimiliano Allegri lifting the Coppa Italia and finishing third in Serie A, he was dismissed immediately after the final. The appointment of Thiago Motta failed to pay off, while several new signings disappointed. Fortunately, Igor Tudor was brought back to Turin in time to secure fourth place in Serie A — Roma finished just one point behind. However, the team should not be overrated: they crashed out early at the Club World Cup. Even now, though mostly winning, they have already dropped points domestically. In the Champions League, they were close to starting with a home defeat. Luckily for them, their opponents Borussia Dortmund collapsed, conceding twice in stoppage time after leading 4-2, so Juventus salvaged a draw. Juve’s midfield looks more balanced this season, with Locatelli and Fagioli offering stability. Still, their reliance on late comebacks underlines an ongoing struggle to control matches for a full 90 minutes.
The clubs met in the Champions League knockout stage in 2022. Emery’s Villarreal drew at home but went on to defeat the Italian giants away. There should definitely be goals in this matchup. The best option looks like both teams to score.
Prediction for the match: Both teams to score – yes.
