Virginia García’s side had to be strong in defence to get a point where they had no luck in front of goal
Villarreal Women went tinto the game fourth in the league, with 16 points, after having beating Sporting Club de Huelva in their last match. They also have played a game fewer than most sides, after the postponement of the match against CA Osasuna because of the flooding in Valencia. Virginia García’s side wanted to lay down a marker to stay towards the top of the table. However, the match against CD Alba Fundación Femenino was a tough game, a slog at times, with a lot of clashes in the middle of the pitch, and with few goalscoring chances, which saw the match end all square with no team finding the back of the net (0-0).
In the first half, CD Alba Fundación Femenino were able to impose the tempo they wanted in the opening stages of the game, pushing back Villarreal Women and keeping them pegged in their half of the pitch. Despite this tough start to the match, Virginia García’s side did not shrink and continued to fight for every ball. The closest chance of the first half went to Maria Ferreira, although the ball went off target. When the referee blew for half-time, it looked like the second half at the José Manuel Llaneza Training Ground was going to be enthralling.
After the half-time break, both teams made changes to try and decant the game their way. For the Yellows, María Romero, Elena Gil, Irene Miguélez and Lucía Romero came on. The substitutions, combined with Aixa Salvador and Lauris’ attacking intensity, started to generate a lot of danger for Jana Xin in the away goal. However, luck was not on the side of the Submarine, and the ball did not want to go in.
CD Alba Fundación had two good chances too, but Carmen Carbonell was there to keep her clean sheet. The Valencian goalkeeper was crucial for Villarreal, after getting an important touch to stop former Yellow Albeta scoring straight from a corner, and then in the second-half, making a point-blank save from Laura Teruel’s powerful effort. It ended with both teams taking a share of the points, in a clash between two sides who will be fighting to end the table towards the top.
Line-ups:
Villarreal Women: C. Carbonell; Nerea, Vicky (I. Miguélez, min. 74)., Lena Pérez, N. Vicente; Lucía G. (Elena Gil, min. 59)., Guerrero, Cienfu (Lucía R., min. 87).; Maria Ferreira (María, min. 59)., Aixa y Lauris.
CD Alba Fundación: Jana, Celia, Marta P. (Mireya, min. 87)., L. Serna, L. Teruel, L. Ortega (Elena, min. 70)., Nata, Moreira, Albeta, Paula M., Bea Prades.
Referee: Sara Fernández. Booked: Maria Ferreira (Villarreal); Celia, Moreira (CD Alba Fundación).
Matchday information: Match played at the José Manuel Llaneza Training Ground. Before kick-off, a minute’s silence was held in memory of the victims of the flooding in Valencia.
