Preview and odds for Villarreal v Manchester United
Manchester United have the chance to claim another European trophy when they head into the Europa League final in Poland as clear favourites to get the better of Villarreal.
United won this competition in 2017 and have the chance to repeat that success after reaching a final under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at last, having lost their previous four semi-finals.
Villarreal are appearing in a European final for the first time but Spanish clubs have dominated this competition in recent years, winning six of the last nine finals and their manager Unai Emery has won three of those with Sevilla.
Wednesday’s match in Gdansk is live on BT Sport and kicks off at 8pm as we highlight a few potential Europa League final betting tips.
Europa League final match odds
Manchester United have been among the leading contenders to win the Europa League ever since they failed to reach the group stage of the Champions League and they are now 2/5 to lift the trophy, while they are 4/5 to win in 90 minutes.
The Red Devils will take confidence from the way they brushed aside Spanish opposition earlier in the competition, beating both Real Sociedad and Granada 4-0 on aggregate.
Those two teams finished fifth and ninth in La Liga respectively so seventh-placed Villarreal should provide a similar test.
Emery’s men knocked out his former team Arsenal in the semi-finals so certainly deserve respect and are 19/10 to win the cup.
Their record against the top teams in Spain highlights their limitations, though, having managed just one win (at home to Sevilla) against the top six this season.
But they have been involved in five draws, including away at champions Atletico Madrid and at home to Real Madrid, and the match is 12/5 in the Europa League final odds to go to extra time.
Europa League final head-to-head
These teams have met four times previously and incredibly there has never been a goal!
They clashed in the group stage of the Champions League in 2005 and then again in 2008 but on each occasion the match ended in a 0-0 draw.
A repeat of that scoreline after 90 minutes can be backed at 8/1 while United are 9/1 to win in extra time or 10/1 to prevail on penalties.
Villarreal are the same price to come out on top in a shoot-out but 14/1 for victory in extra time.
Previous Europa League XI
Manchester United: De Gea, Bailly, Maguire, Shaw, Wan-Bissaka, Pogba, Fred, Fernandes, Van de Beek, Cavani, Greenwood.
Team news
United captain Harry Maguire sat out Tuesday’s open session after sustaining ankle ligament damage 16 days ago and looks set to miss the final. Solskjaer has to choose between goalkeepers David De Gea and Dean Henderson among some big selection decisions, while Anthony Martial and Phil Jones (both knee) are ruled out.
Emery has a similar decision to make with Geronimo Rulli and Sergio Asenjo both hoping to start in goal for Villarreal, while Paco Alcacer and Carlos Bacca are fighting it out to start up front along with Gerard Moreno.
Key battles
Villarreal defender Pau Torres has been linked with a big-money move to some of the top clubs in Europe this summer, including Manchester United, so this is a good opportunity for the 24-year-old to prove himself on the big stage.
His prospects of such a transfer will only improve if he can handle the threat of experienced United striker Edinson Cavani, who has scored nine goals in his last 10 appearances including a brace in both legs of the semi-final against Roma.
Cavani – who has previously played under Emery during his time at PSG – is the 7/2 joint-favourite to open the scoring along with Bruno Fernandes while 10/3 is on offer for both players to score in a United win.
In the absence of Maguire, United’s defence will be marshalled by Victor Lindelof as they come up against Moreno and probably Alcacer, who have both scored six goals in this season’s Europa League. Moreno is 4/1 to open the scoring.
