Treble-chasing Twente to stun Villarreal
The first half of our Europa League quarter-final preview focuses on the matches involving the two frontrunners to win the tournament, FC Porto and Villarreal. Can either be stopped? Here's what we reckon...
FC Porto v Spartak Moscow (ITV4)
Jose Mourinho's protégé Andres Villas Boas continued his remarkable first campaign as Porto boss by claiming the Portuguese title at the home of former champions Benfica with five games to spare at the weekend, in the process claiming their seventh straight victory in all competitions.
They are convincing [1.42] favourites to continue that streak against a Spartak Moscow side that beat Ajax in both legs of their round-of-16 clash yet have made a dismal start to the new Russian Premier League season, losing two of their first three matches and posting a minus five goal difference.
Spartak are therefore unlikely to repeat their Amsterdam ArenA heroics and will instead be content to return to Russia with the tie still alive. In their favour with regards to that aim is the fact Porto haven't scored a first-half goal in three of their last four as hosts. The half-time draw/full-time Porto win is [4.5].
Villarreal v FC Twente (ESPN)
This is perhaps the most intriguing of all four quarter-final matches because FC Twente have defied expectations so far by seeing off Rubin Kazan and Zenit St Petersburg to give themselves a shot at an incredible treble. Villarreal have had to work too though, knocking out Napoli and Bayer Leverkusen.
The Yellow Submarine are [1.72] favourites having won all six of their home Europa League games so far but this is poised to be their toughest challenge yet against a team buoyed by a weekend triumph over PSV that sent them to the top of the Eredivisie. By contrast, Villarreal lost to Barcelona at El Madrigal.
Michel Preud'homme's men have delivered away to Werder Bremen and Rubin in Europe already this term and their 2-0 defeat to Zenit was perfectly fine after winning the home leg 3-0, so don't be surprised if they trip up the Spaniards. Look to either lay Villarreal at [1.73] or back the draw at [3.9].
Agree? A £5 double laying Villarreal and backing the half-time draw/full-time Porto win in Portugal returns £47.80 using the Betfair Coupon...
Published: 7 Apr 2011
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