Villarreal and Maccabi Tel Aviv meet in the Europa League on Thursday evening looking to seize full control of Group I.
The Spanish and Israeli sides possess 100% records having recorded back-to-back victories over Sivasspor and Qarabag FK.
Match preview
Having started his Villarreal reign with a draw against newly-promoted Huesca, Unai Emery quickly found himself under pressure at Estadio de la Ceramica.
However, a return of six wins and two draws from the following nine fixtures has left the former Sevilla, Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal boss in favour with supporters of the Yellow Submarine.
As well as sitting just two points off top spot in La Liga, Villarreal have shown plenty of character to overcome Sivasspor and Qarabag in this competition.
Five of the club's eight goals have been scored in the final quarter, with in-form Paco Alcacer netting four times in the closing 16 minutes.
Villarreal are yet to take their defensive resilience from La Liga onto the European stage, but Emery will expect an improvement in that area of the pitch now that his players are facing a step up in class.
Although Maccabi Tel Aviv have endured a slow start in the Israeli Premier League, their scalps on the continent suggest that they will fancy their chances on Thursday night.
The Yellow Ones have won five of their seven European fixtures this season, only suffering competitive defeats to Red Bull Salzburg in the Champions League playoffs.
After only being appointed in August, Giorgos Donis will feel that he has enjoyed a solid start to life at the Bloomfield Stadium, but his side's lack of form on the domestic scene means that he remains under the microscope.
Nevertheless, Maccabi Tel Aviv head into this contest having come from behind to register results versus Sivasspor and Maccabi Haifa, a sign that this group of players are adapting to life under the former Greece midfielder.
Villarreal Europa League form: WW
Villarreal form (all competitions): DWWDWW
Maccabi Tel Aviv Europa League form: WW
Maccabi Tel Aviv form (all competitions): LLWDWD
Team News
Villarreal are unable to call upon Juan Foyth after the Tottenham Hotspur loanee suffered a muscular injury last week.
That could lead to ex-Everton centre-back Ramiro Funes Mori being provided with his first start of the season.
Jaume Costa, Takefusa Kubo and Carlos Bacca are all in line to be restored to the team.
The Tel Aviv team named by Donis is expected to be similar to the one from last week's success in Turkey.
Yonatan Cohen is pushing for a recall in attack after scoring twice in his last four outings, the most recent goal coming as a substitute against Maccabi Haifa on Monday evening.
Villarreal possible starting lineup:
Rulli; Pena, Mori, Torres, Pedraza; Iborra, Trigueros, Costa; Chukwueze, Bacca, Kubo
Maccabi Tel Aviv possible starting lineup:
Tenenbaum; Hernandez, Tibi, Yeini; Kandil, Glazer, Peretz, Davidzada; Biton, Shechter, Cohen
We say: Villarreal 2-1 Maccabi Tel Aviv
Despite the difference in reputation, we are expecting a competitive contest to be played out on the East Coast of Spain. However, Villarreal arguably require this standard of opposition to raise their game, and that could lead to Emery's men battling their way to a hard-fought win.
Top betting tip
Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:databody check tags ::
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