* Villarreal are undefeated at home in the Europa League this season
* The Yellow Submarine have conceded only two goals in the competition at El Madrigal.
* Giuseppe Rossi is tied for first in the scoring charts with seven goals in the tournament.
* Villarreal have won three of their last five games against German opponents (W3, D1, L1).
* Bayer Leverkusen were riding a ten-game unbeaten streak in the Europa League before falling to the Spaniards at the BayArena in the first leg.
* Bayer have not lost in their last six away matches in the competition (W4, D2)
* The Germans have not given up a goal in their last thee matches on the road.
* Bayer won the UEFA Cup by beating Spanish club Espanyol in penalties in 1988.
LAST MEETING
March 10, 2011: Bayer Leverkusen 2-3 Villarreal
Villarreal substitute Nilmar was the hero as he netted a second half brace to give the Spaniards a vital advantage heading back to El Madrigal.
Michal Kadlec opened the scoring for the Germans before Giuseppe Rossi pegged the hosts back. The Yellow Submarine took the lead through Nilmar until Castro found a quick-fire equaliser.
Nilmar then gave the visitors a 3-2 advantage when he popped up to score late in the game.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Villarreal: Lopez; Mario, Gonzalo, Marchena, Capdevila; Bruno, Valero, Cani, Cazorla; Rossi, Nilmar
Bayer Leverkusen: Adler; Schwaab, Hyypia, Reinartz, Kadlec; Rolfes, Vidal; Sam, Renato Augusto, Castro; Derdiyok
Prediction
Villarreal have been convincing at home in the competition and should be able to fend off the Germans' inevitable barrage in the second-leg at El Madrigal.
Villarreal 2-1 Leverkusen 
