Villarreal v Mönchengladbach background
Sunday, November 9, 2014
Article summary
Villarreal CF held VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach in Germany, and both have the round of 32 in their sights as they meet for a second time in UEFA Europa League Group A.
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Villarreal CF and VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach can both confirm their places in the UEFA Europa League round of 32 with a Group A win on matchday five.
Form guide
• The sides drew 1-1 in Germany as they met for the first time in the opening round of games.
• Villarreal have won all three of their European home contests this season, scoring four goals in each. They are on an 11-match winning streak at home in the UEFA Europa League, play-offs included.
• Gladbach are unbeaten in three European away games this term (W2 D1) but have lost their last two encounters in Spain, conceding four times in each.
Trivia and links
• Villarreal and SSC Napoli could be the unluckiest sides in the group stage – both have hit the woodwork four times since matchday one.
• Villarreal defender Gabriel Paulista turns 24 on the eve of matchday five; Gladbach's Roel Brouwers turns 33 the day after the Villarreal game.
• Mönchengladbach's Spanish defender Álvaro Domínguez and Villarreal goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo were team-mates at Club Atlético de Madrid when the Colchoneros won the UEFA Europa League in 2009/10 and 2011/12. Domínguez featured in both finals, while Asenjo was an unused substitute in the second.
• Villarreal's Serbian right-back Antonio Rukavina knows German football well, having represented Borussia Dortmund (2008) and TSV 1860 München (2009-12) before moving to Spain.
The coaches
• An attacking midfielder in the Spanish top flight with Real Sporting de Gijón, Villarreal coach Marcelino started coaching early after retiring due to injury aged 28. In charge at El Madrigal since 2013, he has also overseen RC Recreativo de Huelva, Real Racing Club, Real Zaragoza and Sevilla FC.
• Swiss coach Lucien Favre is leading Mönchengladbach into a second UEFA Europa League group stage campaign, having steered them to the round of 32 in 2012/13. The former Switzerland midfielder won two national titles and a Swiss Cup in charge of FC Zürich, and coached Hertha BSC Berlin before taking over Mönchengladbach in 2011.
• Favre's four European games against Spanish sides as a coach with Servette FC ended W1 D2 L1, including a 5-2 aggregate loss to Villarreal's neighbours Valencia CF in the 2001/02 UEFA Cup. Marcelino's only previous European campaign as a coach was ended by German opponents, his Sevilla side losing to Hannover 96 in the 2011/12 UEFA Europa League play-offs.
