Liverpool are favourites for their Europa League semi-final clash with Villarreal, but the La Liga side do not come without dangers, says Guillem Balague. Jurgen Klopps side are on a high after their dramatic 5-4 aggregate win over Borussia Dortmund in the last eight on Thursday, and must now travel to El Madrigal for the first leg on April 28.Villarreal are fourth in La Liga, and Sky Sports Spanish football expert Balague says they are strong from the back and on the counter attack. The Reds overcame Borussia Dortmund 5-4 on aggregate in the quarter-final I hope Liverpool manage to get to the next round. The little details will count for everything. Villarreal have a lot of quality, but the biggest thing is their solid base. They have one of the best defences in La Liga.They are a club who dont demand too much, the expectations arent huge and players love playing there.But now theyve got to a point where theyve got to show if theyve got what it takes to get to the next level, to show if they can consistently play in European competitions at this stage. Cedric Bakambu of Villarreal celebrates with Roberto Soldado But Liverpool are favourites in my mind, but lets remember they made their lives very difficult against Borussia Dortmund, and there are not always miracles.If Villarreal can control the game and counter attack, they will be dangerous.Individually, they are stronger than Liverpool, but I get the feeling Liverpool have found a dynamic, a mental strength to see them through. Soldados role has changed since moving back to Spain from Tottenham If they fill the stadium, it means everyone in the town will be in the stadium. Thats the contrast. The fan base is not huge.Their rise has been based on very good defence, breaking hard on the counter with a lot of pace, and with players who are there because they perhaps failed before, like [Roberto] Soldado, or because they want to jump onto other bigger clubs, like Cedric Bakambu.Villarreal have former Tottenham striker Roberto Soldado on their books, and while his time in the Premier League was a disappointment, Balague says his role has now changed from a goalscorer to a creator.Hes different to the Roberto Soldado who was here in England, the one who didnt pass and didnt score. Highlights from El Madrigal as Barcelona were held by Villarreal to a 2-2 draw last month Before he went to Spurs he was a goalscorer, now he helps more with assists. He drops deeper, and helps others to score.They have a very solid axis, Alphonse Areola the goalkeeper, Eric Bailly the centre-back is strong and will have nothing to fear, Bruno, who for me is the best midfielder Spain has outside the top three, and of course Bakambu and Soldado, who create danger.If you score against them in the first leg away from home, you have an advantage. Also See: Liverpool to face Villarreal Milner: Win will give us belief Origi: Klopp inspired us Guillem Balague Allen Hurns Cowboys Jersey . Its the second time this season that Milan has been sanctioned by the league judge, after fans also subjected Napoli supporters to discriminatory chants. The ban will come into effect for Milans next match, against Udinese on Oct. Michael Gallup Jersey . The Wizards gave up two seldom-used players — forward Jan Vesely and point guard Eric Maynor. Vesely goes to the Nuggets, while Maynor gets shipped to the 76ers. Philadelphia receives two second-round draft picks, one from the Wizards in 2015 and one from the Nuggets in 2016. http://www.cowboysrookieshop.com/Leighto...er-Esch-Jersey/. The Philadelphia Eagles acquired running back Darren Sproles from the New Orleans Saints for a fifth-round draft pick on Tuesday. Bo Scarbrough Cowboys Jersey . Johansen scored twice and Derek MacKenzie, Brandon Dubinsky and Cam Atkinson also had goals to lead the Blue Jackets to a 5-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Thursday night, ending a three-game losing skid. Leighton Vander Esch Jersey . Subway workers in Rio de Janeiro, meanwhile, were holding an assembly to vote on whether they would strike to demand higher wages, threatening to disrupt transportation. By late Tuesday night there was no announcement of their decision. BOSTON -- Jacoby Ellsbury went to the New York Yankees. Jarrod Saltalamacchia is gone, too. The Boston Red Sox began rebuilding for their World Series title defence Wednesday when they signed free agent catcher A.J. Pierzynski to a one-year contract. "Its not every day you get a chance to play for the defending World Series champions. Looking at what they have coming back, theres definitely a chance to do it again," Pierzynski said in a conference call with reporters. "It was a place that you always want to go to because they win and they try to win every year. When they called, it was hard to say no." A two-time All-Star, Pierzynski will take over for the switch-hitting Saltalamacchia, who agreed to a three-year, $21 million deal with the Miami Marlins on Tuesday at about the same time the Yankees pried Ellsbury away from their rivals with a seven-year, $153 million contract. "We wish Jacoby well," general manager Ben Cherington said. "He was obviously a real good player here. He was a big part of two World Series teams and we would have loved to keep him. But we felt that there was an area or range that we were willing to go to, and the market just went past that." The best candidate to replace Ellsbury in the Red Sox system is Jackie Bradley Jr., who batted .189 in 37 games in the majors last year and .275 with 10 homers in 80 games at Triple-A Pawtucket. Cherington said it was too early to say whether there would be other candidates brought in through free agency or trade. "We feel good about some of the in-house alternatives, and one of those is certainly Jackie Bradley," Cherington said. "We feel fortunate that Jackie is in our organization, and we will feel good that he is playing centre field, if thats the way it works out." Pierzynski, who has played for four teams over parts of 16 seasons, said he talked to several former teammates who were on the Red Sox this year, including David Ortiz, Matt Thornton and Jake Peavy. He also bumped into Mark Kotsay while on vacation in Hawaii. "They all said, If you get an opportunity to come, youve got to take it," Pierzynski said. "Every person I talked to has had a positive experience there. I was grateful that Ben reached out and gave me an opportunity." Saltalamacchia had been a solid catcher in Boston. But his last play in a Red Sox uniform was the ill-advised throw to third base that led to the obstruction call against Will Middlebrooks, which gave the St. LLouis Cardinals a victory in Game 3 of the World Series.dddddddddddd David Ross took over, and the Red Sox went on to win the Series in six games -- their third title in 10 years. Both catchers were also a big part of the clubhouse chemistry that was helped erase the stigma of the fried chicken and beer collapse of 2011. Pierzynski has a mixed reputation in baseball -- including a conflict with Peavy that the two say is long behind them -- but his own teammates usually defend him. "(He has) the reputation across the field of not being the best guy," Boston manager John Farrell said on WEEI-AM. "But there are guys you get that feel from across the field and then when they get in your dugout, you love him. He was on board with everything. The bottom line is he wants to do nothing more than one thing: win." Pierzynski, a left-handed hitter, and Ross, a righty, will both be 37 next season. The Red Sox have two catching prospects in the minor leagues, Christian Vazquez in Triple-A and Blake Swihart in Single-A. "What were looking at is a short-term situation that really points toward Vazquez and Swihart, that are coming," Farrell said. "That doesnt mean that in 2015 Vazquez is a starter, but it gives us the flexibility that if he makes another good step in the minors the next year, its the potential that a guy could step in." Cherington also said his goal was to make the 2014 team stronger without hindering flexibility in the future, an outlook that made a one-year deal for a veteran catcher more attractive than the three years Saltalamacchia got. "We really appreciate everything he did," Cherington said. "If reports are accurate, were happy for him that he gets a good deal. We wish him well, but we feel like A.J. is the right fit for us right now." Pierzynski batted .272 with 17 homers and 70 RBIs last season with Texas -- the 13th season in a row in which hes caught at least 110 games. In his career with the Twins, Giants, White Sox and Rangers, Pierzynski is a .283 hitter with 172 homers and 800 RBIs, with a .322 average in 33 games at Fenway Park. "The combination of A.J. and Ross will allow that to be a position of strength for us, as it was this year," Cherington said. Pierzynski has caught two no-hitters, including Philip Humbers perfect game April 21, 2012. He made the All-Star Game in 2002 and 06 and won the World Series with the White Sox in 2005. He has a .300 career average with five homers and 17 RBIs in the post-season. Youth NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Throwback Jerseys Disocunt Football Jerseys China Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale NFL Gear Cheap Jerseys ' ' '