Europa League 
/ Kevin Hatchard / 09 March 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Marcos Senna will as ever be the heartbeat of Villarreal's midfield
"Bayer are finally performing well at home, and I expect them to edge a close one."
We'll probably see these two teams in the Champions League next season but for the time being they're fighting it out in the Europa League and its' likely to be first blood Bayer.
Both of these sides are comfortably on course to qualify for next season's Champions League, so they should be able to fully focus on winning this trophy.
Bayer are 12 points adrift of Bundesliga table-toppers Borussia Dortmund, but Jupp Heynckes' side have been in fine form since the winter break. They've won five out of eight league games, and they dismantled Metalist Kharkiv 6-0 on aggregate in the Europa League.
Wily old fox Heynckes has somehow managed to turn around Bayer's poor home form, which was holding them back earlier in the season. They have won their last four games at the BayArena, keeping three clean sheets in the process.
Villarreal are an impressive fourth in La Liga, and their success has been based on excellent home form. The Yellow Submarine has been in murkier waters away from El Madrigal, with just four road wins in the league. In all competitions Villarreal have won just once in their last eight away games.
In the round-of-32 Villarreal ground out a 0-0 draw at Napoli before winning 2-1 at home. In Naples Villarreal boss Juan Carlos Garrido set his team up to defend deep and play on the counter, and I expect him to do the same in Germany.
RECOMMENDED BETS: Bayer are finally performing well at home, and I expect them to edge a close one. Back Bayer to win at [2.12] and back under 2.5 goals at [1.92]
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