We got no help from Getafe or Elche this week. So, for our dreams of top 4 in La Liga to live another jornada we will need to repeat our recent two performances against Villareal and take all three points away. It is insanely hard to win three times in a row. Particularly against a talented, motivated, and angered opponent. Our team undoubtedly has their heads filled with thoughts of beautiful St. Petersburg in the springtime, but they need to refocus on La Liga for the next three weeks and handle business.
I’m really not sure what to expect. Clearly Emery has had the tactical upper hand in these matches. And also clearly Villareal will be out for pride and blood. Krycho is out with suspension and Gameiro and Deulofeu are out as well. We very well may have seen the last of Deulofeu. With Gameiro out will Aspas finally get his chance? I doubt he’d start, but I’d think he could come on in the 75th?
Getting all three from this match would be HUGE for our chances of fourth. Anything less and the math starts looking less and less likely (though I maintain, not impossible).
Here’s the team list:
Sergio Rico, Barbosa, Coke, Diogo, Fernando Navarro, Carriço, Tremoulinas, Arribas, Nico Pareja, Kolo, Mbia, Iborra, Ever Banega, Denis Suárez, Vitolo, Reyes, Aleix Vidal, Iago Aspas y Bacca