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Villarreal coach Juan Carlos Garrido believes tonight’s clash with Real Zaragoza is the biggest game his side will face this season.
Fourth-placed Villarreal were hammered 5-0 by Valencia last weekend to fall nine points third-placed Los Che, who hold the final automatic qualifying spot for next season’s Champions League.
The Yellow Submarine’s current standing would at least place them in the qualifying rounds for the competition but Garrido still has his sights on catching Valencia, and they can close the gap to six points, with six games remaining, if they win their game-in-hand against Real Zaragoza tonight.
And Garrido said: “It's a match where we can take a giant step and define our chances of playing in the Champions League next season.”
He added: “We should congratulate everyone for what we've done up until now, both the players and all those who work day in day out at Villarreal because we are exceeding our objectives.
“The players are having an extraordinary season and we are competing in two competitions at a great level.”
While Villarreal head into this game on the back of successive defeats, Real Zaragoza will be looking to build on their 2-1 victory over Getafe last time out.
Watch Villarreal v Real Zaragoza live at 365, kicking off at 20.00 BST.