Villarreal are heading into the match on the back of a 4-0 win against Elche in a Spanish top-flight fixture, while the Polish outfit secured a 2-0 victory over Widzew in their domestic league match.
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Villarreal will kick off their 2022-23 Europa conference League campaign with a group game at home against Lech Poznan on Thursday. The hosts had earned a direct qualification to the group stage of the Conference League courtesy of securing a seventh-place finish in the La Liga Santander last season. Lech Poznań, meanwhile, came through the qualifying rounds to reach this far. Villarreal are heading into the match on the back of a 4-0 win against Elche in a Spanish top-flight fixture last Sunday, while the Polish outfit secured a 2-0 victory over Widzew in their domestic league match on the same day.
? @jose1987morales ?
? “Playing in European competition gives prestige to the club and we want to achieve something important, but we must go step by step.”
? “I want to continue to show my level and know if I am capable of playing European football.”
— Villarreal CF English (@VillarrealCFen) September 7, 2022
Villarreal, who had reached the semi-finals of Champions League last season, would be confident about their chances of progressing through to the knockout stage from a group also consisting of Austria Wien and H-Beer-sheva alongwith Lech Poznan. The Yellow Submarine put four goals past Elche without reply in their last outing. Gerard Moreno, Giovani Lo Celso, Francis Coquelin and Jose Luis Morales netted for Unai Emery’s side to secure all three points. It was Villarreal’s third win in their opening four La Liga games, and they are now sitting at the third position in the table with 10 points, just two behind leaders Real Madrid.
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Lech Poznan, on the other hand, haven’t made a great start to their Ekstraklasa title-defence. The Railwayman managed to register just three wins from their opening seven league games, to be sitting at the eighth position in the standings. In their last match against Widzew, late-goals from Joao Amaral and Mikael Isak helped John van den Brom’s side to secure the win and take their points tally to 10 for the season, seven behind the summit.
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Villarreal boss Emery is likely to rest a couple of his regulars. Veteran goalkeeper Pepe Reina could come into the starting eleven in place of Geronimo Rulli. Last game’s goal-scorer Morales is likely to partner Jackson up front. As for Lech Poznan, Mikael Isak, who has found the back of the net 12 times this season, is expected to lead the line. Meanwhile, Antonio Milic could partner Pingot in the heart of the defence.
Villarreal probable starting lineup: Reina, Femenia, Cuenca, Mandi, Pedraza, Chukwueze, Coquelin, Morlanes, Baena, Jackson, Morales
Lech Poznan probable starting lineup: Bednarek, Pereira, Milic, Pingor, Rebocho, Murawski, Karlstrom, Skoras, Amaral
The UEFA Europa Conference League match between Villarreal and Lech Poznan will take place at Estadio Ciudad de Valencia on Thursday at 10:15 pm IST.
| Villarreal vs Lech Poznan | Key details |
| Date | September 8 |
| Venue | Estadio Ciudad de Valencia |
| Kickoff time in Spain | 6:45 pm |
| Kickoff time in Poland | 6:45 pm |
For the football fans in India, the live telecast of the UEFA Europa Conference League is available on the Sony Ten network. You can also live stream through SonyLIV App/ website. Besides, the supporters in Spain can watch the match between Villarreal and Lech Poznan on Movistar Liga de Campeones and Movistar+ . Meanwhile, those in Poland can catch the live action through Viaplay Poland.
