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Andy

The Horse Racing category publishes select GB and IE reviews around 10 minutes before races we feel merit your interest.

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Latest posts by Andy (see all)

• Saturday Horse Racing Trends and Free Tips: 1st Oct 2022 - September 30, 2022
• 2022 Ayr Gold Cup Betting Trends & Free Tips - September 11, 2022
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It’s Spain vs England in the 2021 Europa League Final this season as Villarreal take on Manchester United – to be played on Wednesday 26th May 2021 (Gdansk Stadium, Poland)

Villarreal will be playing in their first Europa League Final, while Manchester United have a slightly better record having won this competition back in 2017.

Overall, Spanish clubs have won the Europa League 12 times so far, with English teams being responsible for nine winners.

Both sides have been impressive in reaching the final, but strangely, Villarreal and Manchester United have met four times in their histories and both teams are yet to score a goal! Yes, all four previous head-to-heads between these two teams have ended 0-0.

So, who will be first to break the deadlock?

We give you the stats and you make the decisions!

As always, we’ve got all the games covered from a head-to-head angle, plus our best betting option on each match based on the stats – So, let’s get started!

Match Betting (90mins)
Man Utd 1.75
Draw 3.50
Villarreal 4.75
(Note: Odds are subject to change)

Wednesday 26^th May 2021

Europa League Final

Villarreal v Manchester United 20:00

• Met 4 times before, Man Utd 0, Draws 4, Villarreal 0
• Last met 2008 (Champions League), Villarreal 0-0 Man Utd
• All four previous meetings today have ended 0-0
• Villarreal 2020/21 Europa League Form, P14, W12, D2, L0
• Man Utd 2020/21 Europa League Form, P8, W5, D2, L1
• Both teams DIDN’T score in 5 of Man Utd’s last 8 Europa League games
• 5 of Man Utd’s last 8 Europa League games went UNDER 2.5 GOALS
• Villarreal have scored in 13 of their last 14 Europa League games
• Villarreal have won 3 of their last 6 Europa League games 2-1

2017 Europa League winners – Manchester United – will be looking to win this competition again in recent times as they take on Villarreal, who are playing in their first final in this event.

It will certainly be a feather in the cup for United boss, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who had his critics during the early stages of management at Old Trafford. But, his side have certainly improved from recent seasons to finish second in the Premier League and reaching this final is another sign they are moving back in the right direction.

The face a Villarreal side who managed only seventh in their domestic league this season, but with former Arsenal boss – Unai Emery – now in charge there is an added subplot as the Spanish coach has plenty of pedigree in this competition, having guided Sevilla to three consecutive Europa Leagues.

Looking at the match betting, the layers are expecting Manchester United to life the trophy – the Red Devils are 1.40 to win the competition, with Villarreal at 3.00.

The 90mins match betting sees United at 1.80, the draw 3.50 and Villarreal on offer around 4.75.

The sides last met in Europe back in 2008 in the Champions League and that ended 0-0. But the interesting thing is, the sides have actually only played four times in total and EVERY meeting has ended 0-0 too!

That’s right, in a quartet of previous clashes, neither side has managed to score, but on a plus neither teams has conceded either. You can back 0-0 in the correct score market at 9.00.

Of course, United entered this competition are being knocked out of the Champions League so have played fewer games in it – they’ve had 8 games – winning 5, drawing 2 and losing 1 to get to this stage.

In contrast, Villarreal have been involved in 14 Europa League games this season – winning 12, with 2 draws and are undefeated.

With 5 of United’s 8 Europa League games going UNDER 2.5 GOALS and the already mentioned 0-0 stats, then this might be an option at 1.72, while the ‘both teams to score’ market is 1.95 (yes) and 1.80 (no).

Looking at the scoring markets, Villarreal’s Gerard Moreno has been their main man this season with 29 goals in total, with 28 goals United’s Bruno Fernandes is their top-scorer this term.

Overall, despite what the betting is saying it looks a tricky game to call. Yes, United look to have the deeper squad and have winning form in recent years in this competition, but they are taking on a side that are yet to lose in the Europa League this season that are guided by a manager that knows how to win this trophy!

The neutrals will be hoping for plenty of goals, but it’s hard to ignore the 0-0 stat between these sides, plus it could be a very cagey opening period with both sides feeling their way.

United will know they will probably just need to keep Villarreal’s clear main scorer – Moreno – under wraps and if they can, then they should be winning this with the likes of Fernandes, Greenwood and Rashford all in decent scoring form this season to call on to get the job done.

However, it what is still expected to be a tight game, the UNDER 2.5 GOALS option at 1.72 is how we are going to play this.

JUICESTORM VERDICT: UNDER 2.5 GOALS @1.72

Recent Europa League Winners

2020 – Sevilla
2019 – Chelsea
2018 – Atl Madrid
2017 – Manchester United
2016 – Sevilla
2015 – Sevilla
2014 – Sevilla
2013 – Chelsea
2012 – Atl Madrid
2011 – Porto
2010 – Atl Madrid
2009 – Shakhtar Donetsk
2008 – Zenit St Petersburg
2007 – Sevilla
2006 – Sevilla
2005 – CSKA Moscow
2004 – Valencia
2003 – Porto
2002 – Feyenoord
2001 – Liverpool
2000 – Galatasaray