© EuroFootball.com
At the return leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final, "Villarreal" will try to do what their opponents at "Arsenal" failed to do in the last nine consecutive games - score a goal.
This is the only way out for the "Yellow Submarine" if they want to prevent the London team from reaching the Champions League final for the first time in the club's history.
In the first match between these teams in London, "Arsenal" won 1-0 and extended the "dry goal" streak in the Champions League to nine, matching the record set in the ninth decade by Amsterdam's "Ajax". The only goal scorer in the first match was Ivory Coast national team defender Kolo Toure, who scored just before halftime.
However, reaching the final could be a difficult task for "Villarreal": their biggest victory in their debut season in the Champions League was a 2-1 win against Liverpool's "Everton" in the third qualifying round.
"Villarreal" has won only one of their last eight matches in the Spanish league, and on Saturday, they lost 0-2 at home to San Sebastian's "Real Sociedad" - this was the price paid by the team's manager, Manuel Pellegrini, for allowing the main team players to rest.
After this defeat, "Villarreal" is in only tenth place in Spain, meaning their only hope to play in the Champions League next year is to win the title.
However, M. Pellegrini believes that his team can ignore the statistics and do what even the star-studded attacking lines of Real Madrid and Juventus couldn't do - score a goal against "Arsenal".
"I fielded this lineup because we have a very important match on Tuesday," said the Chilean after Saturday's match. "I thought we would play better, but I am convinced that the match against 'Arsenal' will be completely different."
In today's match, "Villarreal" will have to cope without the disqualified Italian defender Alessio Tacchinardi and injured defenders Gonzalo Rodriguez and possibly Juano Manuel Pena. However, the team's goal will be guarded by the main goalkeeper Sebastian Viera, who returns after a suspension.
However, the main burden in this match will fall on the "brains" of "Villarreal," Argentine Juan Roman Riquelme, and forward Diego Forlan, who will have to find ways to overcome the young but reliable "Arsenal" defense.
Just like "Villarreal," the only guaranteed way for "Arsenal" to play in the Champions League next year is to win it. This situation arose after "Arsenal" failed to defeat Tottenham in the last North London derby at "Highbury" on Saturday.
Blame can also be placed on "Arsenal" manager Arsene Wenger, who fielded a less strong lineup: Thierry Henry, Francesc Fabregas, and Emmanuel Eboue started the match on the bench, while Freddie Ljungberg and Alexander Hleb got a chance to rest.
It is expected that this quintet will play in today's match, and Spanish Jose Antonio Reyes may be able to play, as he missed the first leg due to suspension.
It is doubtful whether Swiss defender Philippe Senderos will be able to play today. His injury could pave the way for the return of England defender Sol Campbell to the starting lineup.
Predicted lineups:
"Villarreal" (4-4-2): Viera; Venta, Arzo, Quique Alvarez, Arruabarrena; Sorin, Senna, Josico, Riquelme; Jose Mari, Forlan;
"Arsenal" (4-5-1): Lehmann; Eboue, Toure, Campbell, Flamini; Hleb, Gilberto, Fabregas, Pires (Reyes), Ljungberg; Henry;
