Everton's Biggest Obstacles in the Remaining Europa League Group Stage Matches

With a 3-0 victory over Lille on Thursday, Everton has placed itself in a tremendous position in Group H of the Europa League.

Though the Toffees only need a point to essentially secure a position in the round of 32, there is still much to play for in their final two games. To secure an optimal finish to the group stage, Everton still has some bumps in the road to face, both internally and externally.

While it is extremely unlikely that Everton does not qualify for the knockout stage, the top position in Group H is still very much up for grabs.

This is certainly significant. Participants of the knockout stage are seeded, with Europa League group winners and the top four third-place teams from the UEFA Champions League group stage getting matched up against Europa League group runners-up and the bottom four third-place teams from the Champions League.

Club	Wins	Draws	Losses	Points	Goal Differential
Everton	2	2	0	8	6
Wolfsburg	2	1	1	7	3
Lille	0	3	1	3	-3
Krasnodar	0	2	2	2	-6

As things stand after Matchday 4 in both competitions, a first-place finish in Group H would guarantee that Everton avoids Ajax, CSKA Moscow, Juventus, Inter, Sevilla, and Fiorentina, to name a few.

The first obstacle Everton will face in its remaining group stage matches will be a desperation on the part of Wolfsburg to nab the top spot in the group when the two clubs clash on November 27. 

Desperation that for Wolfsburg will certainly be aided by playing at home—always a boon in European play.

Thus far, Everton has put in two professional performances on the road in the group stage, picking up a draw in each.

However, Wolfsburg's quality is greater than that of Lille or Krasnodar, so while Roberto Martinez's club would gladly take a point from its upcoming German excursion, it will certainly be more difficult than doing so in France and Russia.

Perhaps the single biggest obstacle for Everton in the group stage, then, is the class that Wolfsburg has put on display since the two teams last met. 

Since that meeting on September 18, at which point Wolfsburg had a loss and two draws in the Bundesliga, the German club has vaulted to second place in its domestic league, having won five in a row and six of their last seven. During this stretch, Wolfsburg conceded four goals, while scoring 16.

Wolfsburg has also experienced a bounceback after a shaky Europa League start, beating Krasnodar 4-2 in Russia and most recently defeating them 5-1 in the repeat fixture at home on Thursday.

The Toffees will surely have to be at their best to steal a point, or all three, from the German side. With Wolfsburg only one point behind them in Group H, a home victory in their November meeting would put the Lower Saxony club firmly in the driver's seat heading into the last day of the group stage.

Everton's final group stage match, at home against Krasnodar on December 11, will present challenges of a different kind. 

The Russian side, only established in 2008, is playing in European competition for the first time this season. Though the club got off to a decent start in the Europa League, with a draw at Lille and at home against Everton, two demoralizing defeats against Wolfsburg have left Krasnodar on the outside looking in at the moment. 

Still, the Toffees will have to make sure that focus is kept, not getting ahead of themselves against a lesser opponent when there will still be much to play for.

In the Premier League this season, Everton has at times looked bereft of attacking prowess against opponents content to sit behind the ball and try to play on the counter.

Though Everton punished Lille for such a strategy on Thursday, it could not do so against Swansea City on the previous Saturday, a cause for concern according to Luke O'Farrell at ESPNFC.com:

"

[Creative play] falls to those selected behind the lone striker to assume their share of the responsibility and provide the ammunition for themselves and their teammates. Otherwise, the team becomes overly dependent on Leighton Baines. As good as Baines is, he cannot shoulder the creative burden by himself.

"

Against Swansea, the group of Ross Barkley, Aiden McGeady, and Steven Naismith failed to do that job. A similar performance against a side like Krasnodar could leave the Toffees with one point or zero, in a match that three are needed.

Lastly, injuries could still pose a major threat to Everton's Europa League run. 

The club will already be without John Stones until the new year, and Antolin Alcaraz until early-to-mid December. 

Kevin Mirallas, whose recovery is coming along more quickly than expected, still has a target set to "start playing before the turn of the year," as Rob Urbani reported from Roberto Martinez's Friday press conference on EvertonFC.com.

Martinez also addressed two new injuries, Urbani reported:

"

Seamus had a little cut to his Achilles tendon against Swansea and he needed some stitches. We are assessing that. He couldn’t make it yesterday but I wouldn’t consider it as a real issue. It’s about taking the doctor’s view before the [Sunderland] game and making a decision based on that.

We came through the game last night with just a knock to Gareth Barry.

This morning he was showing a long cut on his shin which is nothing to worry about, but he got a massive knock on the ankle and we need to give it another 24 hours.

"

Seamus Coleman and Gareth Barry are both immensely important to Everton's chances in all competitions, and the club's Europa League hopes will take a hit if either are out for an extended period.

Barry's absence would be particularly troubling, as his partnership with James McCarthy in the center of midfield has become Everton's hub. Supporters need only to think back to the disappointing draw against Swansea on Saturday, in which Barry was forced into defense, to realize how important his play in the middle of the pitch is.

Of course, with all of this being said, there is no reason to believe Everton cannot rise to the challenge and win Group H—provided the team stays healthy. Martinez has made the Europa League a priority and, thus far, has reaped rewards from doing so.

But with plenty of obstacles still between Everton and its goal, the club will have to play its best to reach the target.