Expect Racing to line up in their familiar 4-2-3-1, with Agirrezabala between the sticks and a back four of Eriksson, Mantilla, González, and Salinas. The double pivot of Puerta and Gueye will try to screen the defence, but they'll be chasing shadows against Villarreal's fluid midfield. Canales pulls the strings in the hole, with Martín and Vicente wide, and Villalibre leading the line. It's a shape built for counter-attacking, but against a side that dominates possession, Racing will spend long spells without the ball. The question is whether their legs can hold.

Villarreal will mirror the 4-2-3-1, but with a different intent. Júnior in goal, Mouriño and Romero bombing on from full-back, Foyth and Veiga marshalling the centre. Comesaña and Gueye form a double pivot that can both break up play and start attacks. Then the magic: Pepe, Moreno, and Moleiro floating between the lines, with Mikautadze leading the line. This is a front four that can knife through any defence. Moreno, even at 34, still has that killer instinct — 10 goals in 22 outings last season despite injury struggles. He's the kind of player who punishes a tired, disorganised back line. Villarreal will dominate the ball, stretch Racing wide, and find the half-space runners between the lines. Racing's only hope is to stay compact and hit on the break, but that's a dangerous game against a side with this much quality.