Our prediction for this Europa Conference League match:
Villarreal and Austria Wien face each other at Estadi Ciutat de Valencia in a David-vs-Goliath Conference League clash. The Yellow Submarine aim to keep their 100% record intact, and we are positive that they will adopt an attack-minded approach in Thursday’s showdown. Both Danjuma and Chukwueze are pushing for recalls to the starting XI after the duo came from the bench in a goalless draw with Cadiz, while all Foyth, Alberto Moreno, Gerard Moreno, Reina, and Trigueros have been struggling with injuries of late.
The Violets, on the other hand, experienced all sorts of problems at the back in a 4-1 loss to Lech Poznan, which is probably the main reason why we are going to put our money on Villarreal. All Baltaxa, El Sheiwi, Handl, Martins, Raguz, and Wustinger are likely to miss the game with injuries for the Austrian side.
Highlighted Player (Aissa Mandi):
Aissa Mandi is a product of Reims’ youth school. After playing eight matches for Reims II in the 2009/2010 season, he started playing for the first team in 2010. Mandi made his Reims debut against Le Havre on 20 August, 2010 and he remained at Stade Auguste Delaune until 30 June, 2016, when he decided to join Spanish side Real Betis.
The Algeria international, who was born in Chalons-en-Champagne, France, signed a five-year contract with los Beticos which expires on 30 June, 2021. His main position is centre back, but he is capable of playing as a full back as well. The right-footed defender made his Algeria debut on 5 March, 2014 and he helped the Algerian national team keep a clean sheet in a 2-0 win over Slovenia.
Mandi impressed at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, but he scored his first goal for Algeria in a 3-3 draw with Ethiopia in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. He represented Algeria at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations as well.
Highlighted Team (Austria Vienna):
Austria Wien are an Austrian football club that was founded in March, 1911. Thirteen years later the Violets won their first Austrian Bundesliga title, finishing the season four points clear of fellow capital club First Vienna.
Speaking of the club’s recent trophies, Austria Wien clinched their 24th domestic title in 2013, while lifting their 27th Austrian Cup trophy in 2009. The club’s bitterest rivals are Rapid Wien and the teams face each other in the Wien derby. Austria Wien are regarded as a middle-class club, while Rapid’s supporters mostly come from the city’s working class. Speaking of the club’s European success, the Violets participated in the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1978, losing to Anderlecht in the title game.
Austria Wien welcome their rivals at Franz Horr Stadium, the venue that has been the home ground of the club since 1973. The stadium’s current capacity is 13 400. The club’s colours are violet and white, but they often play their away games in red kits.