Lech Poznan vs Villarreal prediction: EUROPE: Europa Conference League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2022-11-02 20:00.
Lech Poznań will face the difficult task of needing to conquer Spanish opposition for just the second time in their history (D3, L2) to be assured of progressing to the knockout phase play-offs of the UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL), where eight third-place finishers from the Europa League will join them to fight it out for the Round of 16. However, stalemate or defeat will see Lech fans checking the Flashscore app feverishly at full-time in hope that the other Group C fixture fell in their favour!
What an inopportune time then for Lech to match their worst four-game period (D2, L2) of the 2022/23 season, with an early elimination from the Polish Cup and a mid-table Ekstraklasa position giving their home fans little to celebrate. They’re now in the unenviable position of having to defy the odds for immediate success, and whilst they pushed Villarreal all the way to the 89th minute in Spain (L 4-3) on UECL matchday one, they are ultimately yet to win as a pre-match outsider in any competition this season (D3, L4).
UECL title favourites Villarreal, who are already confirmed as first place finishers in Group C, will return to the nation where they lifted the 2020/21 Europa League trophy (defeating Manchester United on penalties in Gdańsk) to rubber stamp their progression to the Round of 16 after a near-perfect four wins from five group stage fixtures (D1), including the heaviest goals scored average (2.80 per game) of all 32 sides after five rounds.
Their season appears to have suffered a minor setback with the immediate departure of continental specialist Unai Emery, with new manager Quique Setién yet to win in any game (D1, L1) so far. Whilst he will be understandably keen for that elusive maiden victory, Villarreal’s busy schedule of four games in nine days and insurmountable position in the group stage could mean that Setién effectively takes a reserve team to Poland to rest key players.
Players to watch: One intriguing subplot in this fixture will be the jostling for the UECL’s Golden Boot award. Lech striker Mikael Ishak as well as Villarreal pairing Álex Baena and José Luis Morales were three of the six players to have scored four goals after the first five rounds of the competition proper.
Hot stat: All but one of Lech’s last 12 games across all competitions produced a half-time draw (5x 1-1, 6x 0-0).