Villarreal defender Gabriel Paulista hopes his team can make home advantage count when they welcome Borussia Monchengladbach in the Europa League at El Madrigal tonight.
Both teams head into the contest in Valencia needing a win to seal a place in the round of 32. Monchengladbach are unbeaten and lead Group A by a one-point advantage over Villarreal with two games remaining.
The Spanish outfit are three points clear of third-placed Zurich, who host Apollon in the other group game.
“We are playing at home and we must win because we want to progress and finish top of our group,” Gabriel said.
“We are aware it will not be easy because Thursday’s rivals play good football and are dangerous. We expect an open game.”
The Valencian outfit held Borussia to a 1-1 draw on matchday one and will fancy their chances of taking three points. Villarreal have won all three of their European games at El Madrigal this season as part of their 11-match winning run at home in the Europa League.
Moreover, Marcelino’s men head into the contest on the back of Sunday’s 2-1 home triumph over Getafe. The outcome halted a four match winless run in the Primera Division and lifted them to eighth in the standings.
“We were under pressure to win,” he continued. “We really needed it and now we can look ahead with optimism.”
Meanwhile, Everton defender Sylvain Distin believes securing progress to the knockout phase of the Europa League with a match to spare will help them domestically.
A point against Wolfsburg in Germany tonight will guarantee qualification while victory will mean they cannot be caught at the top of Group H.
In the event of a win, it will relieve the pressure on their final game of the group at home to Krasnodar next month and offer manager Roberto Martinez the chance to rest players as he looks to cope with a lengthy injury list.
“We will do everything to win that game but if we get a point then we can have a bit of rotation and rest some legs,” said Distin.
“We try to win every game. It is great to think we need just a point to qualify so it will be great to get that on Thursday.”
Everton swept aside Wolfsburg 4-1 at Goodison Park in September but Distin added: “Wolfsburg have won nearly every game since then so we have to expect a completely different game over there but we love this challenge and we will be ready again.”
Elsewhere, captain Scott Brown returns from suspension for Celtic’s Group D clash with Salzburg at Parkhead.
Striker John Guidetti is once again ineligible and defender Jason Denayer is a doubt. Winger Mubarak Wakaso is also
a doubt through sickness while efender Mikael Lustig remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.
