Preview: AaB Aalborg - Villarreal

CelticKing · Nov 5, 2008

Preview: AaB Aalborg - Villarreal

VS.

What: Champions League, Group E, Matchday 4
Who: AaB Aalborg (4th, 1pt) vs Villarreal (2nd, 7pts)
When: Wednesday 05 November 2045 CET
Where: Energi Nord Arena, Aalborg, Denmark

The Champions League Returns this week, and Group E involving Manchester United, Celtic, and these two sides appears to be one of the more cut and dried sections.

The English giants and Villarreal lead the group with seven points apiece, while Celtic and Aalborg lag well behind with just a solitary point each, gained against each other at Celtic Park in the opening group match.

It appears to be a straight shoot out between Aalborg and Celtic to grab the UEFA cup spot, which potentially places more emphasis on this match for the home side. The Yellow submarines pummelled Aalborg 6-3 in an incredible match at El Madrigal, but the Danish champions can take heart from the fact that they managed to net three times against their more fashionable opponents.

However, since that evening manager Bruce Rioch has been relieved of his duties, and the club have failed to win a match since defeating Sonderjyske 2-1, two months and nine matches ago.

Defence of their domestic crown is impossible after such a dreadful run, so the battle for third place and a prolonged European run should be taking up all their energy and focus. After the early season euphoria of qualifying for European football's premier tournament, they have been brought back to Earth with a considerable bump - they are a lowly tenth position in the Danish SAS-Ligaen with only two victories in the league all season.

It should point to a Villarreal victory, but the Primera Division runners-up from 2008 have had a strange few weeks. First there was the chaos of the Aalborg game, then a home capitulation versus Atletico and a horror 5-0 cup defeat to lowly Poli Ejido that left the club notably embarrased. But just when they appear fallable, they romped to a 4-1 win in Bilbao to further enhance their title credentials. They lie just a point behind Barcelona in the table and there is a real feeling that the club has the necessary strength in depth to maintain a title tilt until the very end of the campaign.

As for this fixture, it all depends on coach Manuel Pellegrini's approach to the match. He may be happy to rest the likes of Senna and Rossi knowing that a point virtually seals qualification. Or else, if they have real ambitions of going far in the tournament, a win gives them a real chance of landing top spot in the section and a supposedly easier match in the first knockout stage.

The Yellow Submarines have players in sparkling form; Santi Cazorla further enhanced his sterling reputation with a brilliant individual goal at the weekend, while the evergreen Robert Pires, who is 35 years young, is still one of Spain's most intelligent footballers. Take into account Giuseppe Rossi and Joseba Llorente being in excellent goalscoring form, and it paints a formidable picture that Aalborg face. Llorente has already managed to bag a seventeen-minute hat-trick against the Danish side, so they must be ruing the thought of having to face him once more.

Aalborg caretaker manager Allan Kuhn is charged with the task of motivating his players sufficiently to quell this array of attacking talent, but with moral so low at the club they will have to be careful to avoid another heavy loss. Not even airplane drama, that saw Villarreal's flight to Scandinavia grounded just after take-off, will stop the Spanish side taking a comfortable victory and see them book their place in the last sixteen of the competition.

FORM GUIDE

Aab Aalborg

Nov 01 Odense 1-1 Aalborg (Danish League)
Oct 26 Randers 2-2 Aalborg (Danish League)
Oct 21 Villarreal 6-3 Aalborg (Champ League)
Oct 18 Aalborg 1-2 FC Nordsjaelland (Danish League)
Oct 04 Oct Aalborg 1-1 AC Horsens (Danish League)

Villarreal

Nov 01 Athletic 1-4 Villarreal (La Liga)
Oct 29 Poji Ejido 5-0 Villarreal (Copa Del Rey)
Oct 26 Villarreal 4-4 Atletico Madrid (La Liga)
Oct 21 Villarreal 6-3 Aalborg (Champs League)
Oct 18 Espanyol 0-0 Villarreal (La Liga)

TEAM NEWS

Aalborg

No real major injury concerns for Aalborg, and Marek Saganonwski will expect to lead the line as they look to take the game to Villarreal. On the managerial front, Erik Hamren is expected to be announced as the new coach commencing duties in January, and he could well be here tonight to run the rule over his new squad.

Aalborg XI: Zaza; Olfers, Pedersen, Bogeland, Beauchamp; Johansson, Curth, Risgard, Enevoldsen; Saganowski, Braemer

Villarreal

Nihat and Eguren are still long term absentees, with muscle injuries, while young American Jozy Altidore is not registered for the Champions League. Former Real Mallorca man Ibagaza is still struggling through injury and has been omitted from the squad. Expect Rossi and Llorente to maintain their fruitful partnership up front.

Villarreal XI: Diego Lopez; Angel, Godin, Gonzalo, Capdevila; Pires, Bruno, Senna, Cazorla; Llorente, Rossi

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Aalborg

Polish striker Marek Saganowski is hardly a prolific forward but has a superb attitude and will give everything for his team's cause. In a match like this where the home side may need a little luck to emerge victorious, the lively former Southampton man will do his upmost to ruffle the Villarreal back-line.

Villarreal

Santi Cazorla scored a stunning solo goal to end Athletic's resistance on Saturday, and his forward supporting runs are crucial in linking midfield and attack. Aalborg will need to be vigilant to track him or else he has the ability to punish them in a heartbeat.
Click to expand...

CelticKing · Nov 5, 2008

AaB Aalborg 1-3 Villarreal

Easy game for Villareal I bet.

Colonel Ronan · Nov 5, 2008

Villa with a hattrick? Any takers?

Claud · Nov 6, 2008

2-2 they tied.

Colonel Ronan · Nov 6, 2008

Fail.

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Preview: AaB Aalborg - Villarreal

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Preview: AaB Aalborg - Villarreal

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CelticKing The Green Monster

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