Villarreal vs Getafe preview - Yellow Submarine look to recover

Posted Sunday, May 01, 2011 by PA

Villarreal will need to bounce back quickly from Thursday's Europa League nightmare or risk seeing their hopes of getting into next season's Champions League placed in jeopardy as well.

Villarreal's chances of progressing through to the Europa League final look all but over after they lost the first leg of their semi-final at Porto 5-1 - having been leading at half-time.

However, Villarreal cannot dwell on that mauling as they still have work to do to secure a top-four finish in La Liga.

Perhaps distracted by their European campaign, Juan Carlos Garrido's side have won just three of their last 12 league games, losing six - including three of their last four.

Despite that run, fourth-placed Villarreal still boast a healthy six-point gap over Athletic Bilbao in fifth, although that could disappear fairly rapidly if the Yellow Submarine do not get back to winning ways.

Defender Carlos Marchena said: "These results are tough to take and we need to look for strength wherever we can find it. These things can happen and we cannot let it get us down.

"On Sunday we are playing for three very important points, points that will help us in our other great objective which is fourth place."

Team-mate Borja Valero added: "It's vital. We cannot allow any points to escape at home, that way we can keep the chasing teams at a distance."

Villarreal are not the only side in desperate need of points this weekend, with their next opponents at El Madrigal, Getafe, badly out of form and in serious danger of going down.

Michel's men, who finished sixth last season, have won only twice in 17 league games in 2011 - losing four of their last five - and they are now just two points above the relegation zone.

"Things must change and we have to react. Villarreal is a game of life or death for us," defender Mane said.