Villarreal fall short against Celta to make possible European qualification more complicated
A Villarreal side, who were a man down from very early on, lost in their visit to Balaídos to face Celta (3-2), in a match where the Yellows, despite working hard, saw how their chance to get three points disappeared against the Galician side disappeared against a clinical Celta side who were able to come back after the Submarine’s opener. With the defeat, the chance of getting into Europe next season becomes complicated for Marcelino García Toral’s side.
The match was a battle to take control from the start. Villarreal were well set up, and Celta tried to win the ball back and counter quickly, but Marcelino’s side were the one who struck first. In the 12th minutes, Alberto Moreno received a ball from Parejo on the left flank, and with a powerful left-footed rocket across the goal, gave the Yellows the lead.
It was going to be a first half of mixed emotions, however. Just five minutes later, the path of the match changed when Comesaña was shown a red card after a heavy challenge on Williot, which saw the Yellows down to ten. With the Submarine a man down, the home side stepped up and in the 22nd minute, Iago Aspas equalised from the penalty spot after he was fouled in the box.
The Yellows did not give up, but they had to work twice as hard against a Celta side who were pushing them to the limit. After a few clear chances, Larsen headed them ahead to make it 2-1 in the 39th minute.
In the second half, Villarreal started to have more of the ball, and got closer to Guaita’s goal, but it was Celta who created more danger in the first 15 minutes with a Larsen shot off the bar, and another effort from De La Torre which hit the post. In the 54th minute, Filip Jorgensen showed his class once more, with a great save to deny Hugo Álvarez.
Villarreal however turned the tide of the second half in the 65th minute. A great individual run by Sorloth saw him give the ball to Guedes, and the Portuguese forward, from the right, fired a rocket past Guaita to level the scores. The goal brought a reaction from Celta, who pushed forward, putting pressure on the Yellows in defence, but the Submarine protected their goal well, despite their numerical disadvantage.
The game entered into its closing stages, with neither side having clear chances, and the match being fought in the centre of the pitch. That was, until, in the 83rd minute, Douvikas made it 3-2 heading in an Iago Aspas cross.
Villarreal will return to action against Sevilla FC on Saturday at 4:15pm CEST at the Estadio de la Cerámica.
