The 50th edition of the Europa League final will feature Villarreal and Manchester United on Wednesday, and with both managers going in search of their first titles for their sides, expect a cracker in Gdańsk.
Europa League 2020/2021
Date: 26/05/2021
Kick-off: 20:00
Venue: Stadion Energa Gdansk
Villarreal are competing in their first ever European final and are looking to win their first major trophy in the club’s history when they face Manchester United.
After being unceremoniously sacked at Arsenal, Unai Emery has found his footing once again at Villarreal will now oversee his fifth final in this tourney, and a fouth triumph having led Sevilla to three in a row.
Villarreal are going to be playing a European competition next season after securing a Conference League playoff place via their league position but they’ll be looking to win this final and land themselves a place in next season’s Champions League.
After failing to get past four different semi-finals, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his players put a rest to that worrying stint with a convincing 8-5 aggregate win over AS Roma in the semifinals.
Now, Manchester United are on a mission to win their first trophy in four years — a trophy which coincidentally was the last they ever won, and will be Solskjaer’s first trophy as the club’s boss.
Having rested all his key players in their 2-1 away win over Wolves on Sunday, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be hoping those players turn up in the final as he looks to join the prestigious list of people who have won a European trophy as both player and manager.
Team news
Villarreal
Samuel Chukwueze looks set to miss out with a hamstring injury for Villarreal.
Meanwhile, Tottenham loanee Juan Foyth is also a massive doubt for the final.
Manchester United
Harry Maguire is in a last minute race to be fit for the match. Anthony Martial is still injured and will not play in the final.
Team form
Villarreal’s last five EL games: WWWWD
Manchester United’s last five EL games: WWWWL
Match stats
Villarreal are yet to lose a game in this competition(W12 D2).
Manchester United have never scored against Villarreal in any of their previous meetings.
The last six Europa League finals have seen an average of 4.0 total goals per game.
Betting tips
Incredibly, every single meeting between both sides in the past has ended in a goalless draw. Villarreal’s attack has been firing on all cylinders lately, failing to find the back of the net just once in their last 19 games and they’ll back themselves to score against United’s defence which could be bereft of leading man Maguire.
Manchester United have seen goals go in at both ends of the pitch in seven of their last eight games, including in all of the last six. Expect that run to continue in this final. So, let’s snap up the Both Teams To Score market at 19/20.
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