Zürich v Villarreal background
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Article summary
Zürich beat Villarreal the last time these sides met in Switzerland, and a repeat of that outcome could spell an early UEFA Europa League exit for the Yellow Submarine.
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Article body
It could be winner takes all on matchday five as Zürich and Villarreal meet in Group L, with the result potentially deciding both sides' UEFA Europa League destiny.
• Villarreal go through with a victory provided Steaua do not win against Osmanlıspor; Zurich qualify if they win by a two-goal margin or 1-0 and Steaua do not prevail.
Previous meetings
• Zürich led within two minutes of kick-off when these teams met for the third time on matchday one, but the Yellow Submarine rallied to win 2-1.
• The clubs previously met in two high-scoring games in the UEFA Europa League group stage in 2014/15; Marcelino's Villarreal triumphed 4-1 at home but went down 3-2 to Urs Meier's side back in Switzerland.
• Current Zürich players Oliver Buff and Marco Schönbachler (with his only UEFA club competition goal to date) were on target in those matches, along with Villarreal's Bruno Soriano.
Form guide
• Zürich are unbeaten in three games since that matchday one loss at Villarreal (W1 D2) and have not lost in their last seven group stage home games (W4 D3).
• Villarreal have drawn both of their Group L away fixtures, and are without a win in four European matches on the road (D2 L2).
• Zürich have failed to make it through the UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League group stage in two attempts since making the cut in their first appearance in 2007/08.
• The Yellow Submarine have qualified for the round of 32 in all six of their previous UEFA Cup and UEFA Europa League group stage ventures.
Links and trivia
• The journey from Villarreal to Zurich is just shy of 1,100km.
• Villarreal's Pato, Braga's Pedro Santos and Austria Wien's Felipe Pires were the most fouled players in the first four matchdays, with 14 infringements each against them.
• Villarreal have become only the second side after PSV Eindhoven to play 50 UEFA Europa League games, group stage to final.
The coaches
• Hired as Zürich coach in May following their relegation from the Swiss top flight, Uli Forte was a defender in Switzerland's lower leagues, climbing the ladder as a coach with spells managing St Gallen, Grasshoppers and Young Boys.
• Fran Escribá took charge of Villarreal in August. A trainee at Valencia, he coached with the club's youth teams, and was Quique Sánchez Flores's assistant at Valencia, Getafe, Benfica and Atlético Madrid before going it alone with Elche and – last season – Getafe.
