Villarreal vs. Liverpool 5/3/22 UEFA Champions League Soccer Pick, Predictions, and Odds

Villarreal is welcoming Liverpool to Estadio de la Ceramica in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinals. Villarreal has caught a bad form right now, they have lost 2 games in a row, and their chances are below zero to qualify for the finals. Liverpool has been pretty much unstoppable lately, they are in excellent form on both ends, and they have a nice advantage from the first leg.

In their last 2 games, Villarreal has conceded 4 goals, they have scored only 1, and they are without a win in those 2 games. In LaLiga, Villarreal is now in 7^th place with 52 points, they have scored a solid 54 goals, while their defense was among the best in the league with 33 conceded goals. Villarreal is in danger of losing the spot in all of the European competitions because Bilbao is behind them with only 1 point less. There are 2 games left for Villarreal in LaLiga, and they need to win at least 1 of them to qualify for the Conference League, or both to have a chance at qualifying for the Europa League. In the first leg of this matchup, Villarreal didn’t do anything, they weren’t a threat, and that is why I think this is probably the end of the road for them in the Champions League, but it was a fantastic journey.

Liverpool is on a 5-game winning streak, they are undefeated since early March, while they have lost only 1 game since late December. In the EPL, Liverpool and City are leading a battle for the top spot, and Liverpool is now in 2^nd place, but City is only 1 point above them. In the first leg, Liverpool was dominant, they were creating chances, and in the end, they have won that game 2-0. I expect the same approach from Liverpool in this game as well, and I’m pretty sure they would love to score a goal early to get rid of any doubts. Liverpool has won the Champions League a couple of seasons ago, they have won the EPL last season, and they might do it again. The good news for Liverpool is they have only 1 injured player, and Salah is improving their form, while Mane is firing on all cylinders right now. I think Liverpool will have a good game here, they will take care of Villarreal, and they will focus on the EPL after that.

No one is giving Villarreal any chances to win this game, but they might score. I see Liverpool winning this one, but I don’t see them pressuring Villarreal unless they have to.