Anderlecht vs Villarreal Prediction 09.03.2023

• Competition: UEFA Conference League
• Date: Thursday, 9th, March 2023
• Kickoff: 17:45 UK / 18.45 CET
• Venue: Lotto Park (Anderlecht)

Anderlecht fully deserved to reserve a place among the best 16 teams in this year's edition of the UEFA Conference League. The Purples managed to make up the one-goal deficit from the first match in the regular part of the second leg, and then, after a better penalty shootout, secured a placement in the next round of this competition. Most of the credit goes to the account of 20-year-old goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, who saved all three Ludogorets shots from the white point.

Meanwhile, Villarreal had no obligations in the intermediate phase, having directly placed in the round of 16 of the UEFA Conference League after finishing Group C earlier in the season as leaders with 13 points won from six games played. The Yellow Submarine, which defeated Manchester United in the final last season and lifted the UEFA Europa League trophy, will also want to bring the trophy from this newly formed European competition to its showcases.

Anderlecht vs Villarreal Betting Tips: BTTS

The players of Anderlecht and Villarreal will cross spears for the first time in their history in one of the European competitions. The quality is obviously on the side of the Spaniards, but the Belgian team will do everything not to be an easy bite and leave a positive impression in the first leg. Instead of the final outcome, we support goals more.

It is evident that Anderlecht is struggling a lot in recent years and that it is not even a pale shadow of the once powerful Belgian team. To make matters worse, The Purples welcome Villarreal with a bitter taste in their mouths, having picked up just a point from their last two games and won just once in their previous five competitive games.

Apart from the fact that home field advantage is no longer such a significant factor for the Brussels team (only three registered victories in the previous six months), the defensive line is also a concern. Namely, the goalkeeper(s) of Anderlecht have taken the ball out of their net at least twice in five of the last seven home games in the JPL.

The Yellow Submarine, meanwhile, is sailing again in calm waters, after they managed to come out of the crisis and end the black series of four consecutive defeats with victories in the previous two LaLiga matches over Getafe (2-1) and Almeria (2-0). It was actually a perfectly made overture before the trip to Brussels.

There is undeniable attacking potential from Villarreal (they scored at least two goals in each of their last three games), but their defense spoils their plans a lot and is one of the main reasons for their poor results of late. Only two clean sheets since the start of the second part of the season clearly show the lack of solidity in the back line.

The boys in yellow jerseys have conceded as many as seven goals in their last three visits to LaLiga, even the "lantern" Elche packed three of them. When we add to that the fact that Anderlecht only managed to save their net intact once in the last 15 home games, it is clear why we expect goals from both sides.