The three Portuguese teams are all obvious favourites but as Villareal get ready to host FC Twente tonight, Juan Carlos Garrido has told his players that they can win the Europa League.
The Yellow Submarines are regarded as favorites to win this tie but whether they are regarded as favorites for the Europa League is still under doubt. Benfica, FC Porto and Sporting Braga have all progressed into the quarter finals and this trio are definitely regarded as massive favorites by all means.
However, the team that hails from the El Madrigal must never be underestimated for certain reasons. The Yellow Submarines are yet to taste any major cup success since being promoted to the La Liga in 1998 but the talent at the disposal of Garrido suggests that it could be a matter of time before success floods the province of Castellón.
A striking combination between Nilmar and Giuseppe Rossi should be feared by almost any defenders because we have a blend of pace and precision there. A midfield with the likes of Santi Cazorla and hugely talented Borja Valero can definitely be expected to ambush opposition defences. While having experienced defenders like Joan Capdevilla and Carlos Marchena can never do any harm for the El Submarino Amarillo.
It is a team designed to challenge for major honors and while Garrido's men are out of contention for the La Liga and Copa Del Rey, they are perfectly placed to challenge for the Europa League title. Nonetheless, Garrido is relishing the prospect of taking on Twente and insisted that his side do not have anything to fear against the Eredivise leaders.
He said: "The match will be very balanced and close, it'll be decided by small details.”Everyone is very motivated, everyone knows the importance of this game and we're looking for a positive outcome from the first leg.
We're facing a great team that's first in the Dutch league and in great form. We respect them and we know their qualities."
Villareal suffered a morale blowing defeat against Barcelona last weekend. While expectations were high for an upset in El Madrigal before the match, a Gerrard Pique goal very much settled the tightly contested affair.
Borja Valero and his teammates were obviously disappointed but the latter insisted that there will be no hangovers from that defeat when they take on Twente tonight.
"We are coming into the match in a positive frame of mind," Valero said in press conference. "Although we lost to Barca we gave a good account of ourselves and we could even have equalized near the end.
"We'll try to continue in the same vein in the Europa League to get a good result and we are convinced we can win the competition."
Whenever there is confidence in a squad full of talented players, nothing less than excitement can be expected from their performance. Especially when even Twente centre-back Douglas admitted that the Yellow Submarines use a similar playing style like Barcelona.
"Villarreal have very good players," he said. They're almost all internationals, with a few exceptions. But we also have quality.
"I've seen Villarreal a couple of times and they play the same style as Barcelona. They try to find solutions through good football. Their two strikers [Giuseppe] Rossi and Nilmar are especially dangerous and we'll have to watch them closely.
"We try to play football and we're not afraid of anyone. Villarreal are the favourites, though. They're a big club who've been playing on the European stage for ten years."
Needless to say though, the Yellow Submarines are definitely regarded as the favorites to win the tie having already scored 15 goals in the tournament so far. With Giuseppe Rossi scoring eight of those goals, Michel Preud'homme would have told his players to keep an eye on the Italian striker tonight.
However, there are lots of other individual talents that could cause turmoil and disrupt Twente's game. While they certainly have what it takes to triumph in the Europa League, it is only a matter of whether they USE their abilities to perfection. Considering that FC Porto might be awaiting them in the semi finals, the possibilities are definitely endless for the El Submarino Amarillo.
However, the team that hails from the El Madrigal must never be underestimated for certain reasons. The Yellow Submarines are yet to taste any major cup success since being promoted to the La Liga in 1998 but the talent at the disposal of Garrido suggests that it could be a matter of time before success floods the province of Castellón.
A striking combination between Nilmar and Giuseppe Rossi should be feared by almost any defenders because we have a blend of pace and precision there. A midfield with the likes of Santi Cazorla and hugely talented Borja Valero can definitely be expected to ambush opposition defences. While having experienced defenders like Joan Capdevilla and Carlos Marchena can never do any harm for the El Submarino Amarillo.
It is a team designed to challenge for major honors and while Garrido's men are out of contention for the La Liga and Copa Del Rey, they are perfectly placed to challenge for the Europa League title. Nonetheless, Garrido is relishing the prospect of taking on Twente and insisted that his side do not have anything to fear against the Eredivise leaders.
He said: "The match will be very balanced and close, it'll be decided by small details.”Everyone is very motivated, everyone knows the importance of this game and we're looking for a positive outcome from the first leg.
We're facing a great team that's first in the Dutch league and in great form. We respect them and we know their qualities."
Villareal suffered a morale blowing defeat against Barcelona last weekend. While expectations were high for an upset in El Madrigal before the match, a Gerrard Pique goal very much settled the tightly contested affair.
Borja Valero and his teammates were obviously disappointed but the latter insisted that there will be no hangovers from that defeat when they take on Twente tonight.
"We are coming into the match in a positive frame of mind," Valero said in press conference. "Although we lost to Barca we gave a good account of ourselves and we could even have equalized near the end.
"We'll try to continue in the same vein in the Europa League to get a good result and we are convinced we can win the competition."
Whenever there is confidence in a squad full of talented players, nothing less than excitement can be expected from their performance. Especially when even Twente centre-back Douglas admitted that the Yellow Submarines use a similar playing style like Barcelona.
"Villarreal have very good players," he said. They're almost all internationals, with a few exceptions. But we also have quality.
"I've seen Villarreal a couple of times and they play the same style as Barcelona. They try to find solutions through good football. Their two strikers [Giuseppe] Rossi and Nilmar are especially dangerous and we'll have to watch them closely.
"We try to play football and we're not afraid of anyone. Villarreal are the favourites, though. They're a big club who've been playing on the European stage for ten years."
Needless to say though, the Yellow Submarines are definitely regarded as the favorites to win the tie having already scored 15 goals in the tournament so far. With Giuseppe Rossi scoring eight of those goals, Michel Preud'homme would have told his players to keep an eye on the Italian striker tonight.
However, there are lots of other individual talents that could cause turmoil and disrupt Twente's game. While they certainly have what it takes to triumph in the Europa League, it is only a matter of whether they USE their abilities to perfection. Considering that FC Porto might be awaiting them in the semi finals, the possibilities are definitely endless for the El Submarino Amarillo.
