Europa League preview: Villarreal seek to spark revival

Villarreal must turn around their stuttering form if they are to avoid Europa League elimination at the hands of Napoli on Thursday.

The Spanish outfit host Napoli at the El Madrigal for the second leg of their round-of-32 tie following a goal-less first outing in Italy last week.

While carrying a 0-0 aggregate into their home leg is certainly advantageous, Villarreal have been less than impressive of late and will need to improve if they are hold off Walter Mazzarri’s men.

Villarreal have gone winless in their past four fixtures across all competitions, beginning with a 1-0 loss to Spanish strugglers Levante that ended an unbeaten record at home.

That defeat sparked a torrid February run that has since included a 1-0 away loss at Deportivo La Coruna, their goal-less trip to Napoli and a 1-1 stalemate at the El Madrigal to bottom-placed La Liga outfit Malaga.

Juan Carlos Garridos’ men have not kept a clean sheet at home since January 3, more than a mere worry given Napoli’s penchant for scoring this season.

Prolific Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani (20 goals in 26 appearances) has been instrumental in a league campaign that has seen Mazzarri’s side draw within three points of league leaders AC Milan.

In stark contrast to Villarreal, the Italians have gone unbeaten in their last four fixtures and lost just two of their past 11 across all competitions.

But Napoli also have a crucial trip to Milan to contend with on Monday, and Villarreal will be hoping the distraction of taking on the Serie A leaders will play into their favour on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Scottish outfit Rangers carry an injury-depleted side and a 1-1 aggregate into their second leg at Sporting Lisbon.

Steven Naismith, Jamie Ness, Lee McCulloch and Kirk Broadfoot are all ruled out through injury, while Nikica Jelavic is ineligible and Kyle Hutton is in doubt with illness.

Sporting, who avoided a 1-0 loss in the away leg when Matias Fernandez nabbed an 89th-minute equaliser, have been defeated at home just three times in the Portuguese Liga this season and will prove an exceedingly difficult prospect for the Scottish champions.

Elsewhere, Manchester City host Aris and Liverpool welcome Sparta Prague after both Premier League clubs secured 0-0 draws in their away legs.

Dutch Eredivisie leaders PSV Eindhoven can end Lille’s campaign when the French outfit travel to the Netherlands with a 2-2 aggregate, while Paris Saint-Germain hold the same advantage following a 2-2 draw at Belarusian champions BATE Borisov last week.

Twente can wrap up their tie at home after defeating Rubin Kazan 2-0 in their away leg, as can Bayer Leverkusen, whose 4-0 victory at Metalist Kharkiv should be enough to see them through to the round of 16.

Anderlecht have some ground to make up if they are to turn around their 3-0 loss at home to Ajax last week, as do Sporting Braga, who fell 1-0 at Lech Poznan in the opening leg.

Dynamo Kiev carry a healthy 4-1 aggregate into their home leg against Besiktas, while VfB Stuttgart will look to turn around their 2-1 loss at Benfica.

Young Boys hold a 2-1 advantage going into their away leg at Zenit St Petersburg, and Spartak Moscow will feel confident of advancing after a 3-2 win at FC Basel last time out.