The Europa League sees sides from across the continent face off and Thursday presents us with an intriguing clash between Spanish side Villarreal, and French outfit Rennes. Here’s what we believe may happen in the UEL.

Team news

Villarreal will have Alex Baena available for selection despite being sent off in a goalless draw with Getafe at the weekend, while all Denis Suarez, Alberto Moreno and Francis Coquelin remain in the recovery room.

Enzo Le Fee remains on the sidelines with a shoulder injury for Rennes, while the Europa League clash comes too early for Martin Terrier, who is back in training.

BTTS No @ 6/5

Villarreal were comfortably and perhaps surprisingly beaten 2-0 by Panathinaikos in their opening Europa League match, and they’ve struggled at the start of this campaign. They currently sit 13th in La Liga, and even the departure of former boss Quique Setien hasn’t drastically improved things.

They drew 0-0 with Getafe at the weekend and are now winless in their last four outings, including that Europa League opener. Meanwhile Rennes are currently 6th in Ligue 1, and beat Nantes 3-1 at the weekend, but away from home they are far more conservative. Their last two away games have finished 0-0, while they also kept a clean sheet against Maccabi Haifa in the Europa League curtain-raiser.

All signs point to the 6/5 on offer for BTTS No being a very good pick. Villarreal are still trying to find their way and are low on confidence, and they come up against a side who are likely to be happy to pick up another point on the road. I’m not expecting fireworks from this fixture, so BTTS No is the first pick.

0-0 correct score @ 12/1

I have to admit being a little surprised when I saw the price of the 0-0 draw. These two sides have both had their struggles so far this season and neither of them have set the world alight. Rennes have scored 13 and conceded just seven in their seven Ligue 1 matches, while Villarreal have scored 10 and conceded 13.

The reason for this choice however is the recent form. Villarreal are coming off the back of a 0-0 of their own as they held on against Getafe away from home with ten men. Their defence was resolute in that display, and they will be hopeful of building on that point. However, they come up against a Rennes outfit who know how to keep teams out on the road. Back-to-back 0-0 draws are testament to that, while they also drew their other away league match 1-1 this term.

They simply don’t go out to attack the opposition away from home. Happy to sit in and take the point, I’m backing 0-0 at a huge 12/1 price.