FC Porto vs. Villarreal – UEFA Europa League semi-final preview
Estadio do Dragao, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Portugal-c2984 will see newly-crowned Portuguese league champions, FC Porto, host La Liga side Villarreal in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League semi-final on Wednesday, April 28, 2011. The match-up is bound to be a show-piece of the tournament
as two of the best teams of the tournament will lock horns.
This season’s edition of the UEFA Europa League has witnessed some of the best football being played over the course of the whole season, and Villarreal and FC Porto have been the pick of the bunch. Many people consider it a shame that the fans won’t be
able to see the Spanish and Portuguese sides play in the final. However, the game will see some of the best players and hottest prospects playing against each other.
Where Porto have http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Giuseppe-Rossi-c15027 and Nilmar, who are considered to be the best striking duo in the Spanish La Liga.
A young manager making it big in Europe
FC Porto manager, Andre Villas Boas, has definitely learned a lot under the tutelage of the late Bobby Robson and Louis Van Gaal. He even followed Jose Mourinho to http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Inter-c39567 Milan but has now come of age at Porto this season. In his first season at the Dragao,
the 33-year-old has already won the Portuguese League and is now very close to the final in Dublin.
Porto have been a team to watch in Portugal this season and the credit goes to Boas, for he has done a fine job indeed for the club. In the ongoing 2010/11 season, Porto have been a force to be reckoned with in Europe. Many have already labelled Porto as
favourites to lift the Europa League this season but Boas has disagreed to the statements.
While talking to the media, Boas said, "There are no favourites when we come to the semi-finals, especially after big teams have been knocked out. We know this is a tough game and I dismiss any suggestion of being favourites. I think Villarreal are the most
difficult team we've faced on this path. They play attacking football with great quality, with a style that has been compared to Barcelona.''
Halting a juggernaut called Porto
Villarreal is perhaps the only team in the Europa League that can beat Porto. The Yellow Submarine plays attacking football with flair that has earned them comparisons to Barcelona. All those comparisons are no understatements. Throughout the tournament,
Villarreal have shown just how deadly they can be on the counter, something Porto will have to watch out for.
Probable line-ups
FC Porto
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Cristian-c9491 Rodriguez, Falcao, Hulk
Villarreal
Diego Lopez; Mario, Marchena, Musacchio, Catala; http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Nilmar-c28044
Prediction
In a match between any tournament’s best teams, chances of victory are few and far between. However, the same rules don’t apply to tonight’s game. Both sides play with flair and play an open attacking game – something that will not be shelled-out tonight
even though stakes are high. Though Villarreal have a potent attack, it appears highly unlikely that Villarreal will come away with a win. However, an away goal for Villarreal can’t be ruled out.
Predicted final score: http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Porto-c39186 3-2 Villarreal
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