Villarreal beat Las Palmas thanks to goals by Bakambu, Mario Gaspar, Sansone and Ximo Navarro (og)
A goal fest and a solid performance. Villarreal beat UD Las Palmas in fine style at the Estadio de la Cerámica (4-0). Javi Calleja’s side, who put in a real team performance, scored four goals in a dream second half after a first half with no luck in front of goal.
The Submarine looked sharp from the start, creating plenty of danger for UD Las Palmas. The Yellows had possession of the ball and Javi Calleja’s men were on point, Trigueros, Fornals and Castillejo playing more central leaving space on the wings for Mario and Jaume to attack.
To begin with, Villarreal’s set pieces created a lot of danger for the visitors. Álvaro had two exceptional chances with his head to open the scoring, but neither hit the back of the net. The first, after just ten minutes of play, went wide, and the second, after a quarter of an hour, was saved by Chichizola.
Then, after the Yellows strong start, Las Palmas got into their stride. The skill of Jonathan Viera and the speed of Remy put Villarreal under pressure towards the end of the first half. However, the away team’s possession was overshadowed by counterattacks led by Bacca and Bakambu. The French-Congolese striker had a brilliant chance to open the scoring after a great through ball by Samu Castillejo set him on his way, but his shot sailed over the bar. Bacca could not convert either, Chichizola keeping him and the home side at bay in first half injury time.
Villarreal went into the break with no goals, despite having had numerous chances to take the lead. The second half followed the same script from the start, with the Submarine attacking the Las Palmas goal. This time Bakambu made no mistake; with his first chance after the restart the Yellows number 17 cut the ball back and smashed it into the roof of the net (1-0). Calleja’s side got what they deserved on the pitch by opening the scoring.
With momentum from going a goal in front, Villarreal continued to pile on the pressure. In the 60th minute, Bacca attempted a bicycle kick from a Mario Gaspar cross but his acrobatics sent the ball just over the bar. A few minutes later the Colombian, hungry for a goal, dribbled around two players in the box and then lobbed the Canary goalkeeper, but his effort bounced off the top of the crossbar.
It was a matter of time for the Yellows’ second and it came from the boot of Villarreal captain, Mario Gaspar. The right back cut in and sent a left-footed, driven shot into the bottom corner of the goal (2-0). The stadium went crazy. And then again, just two minutes later. Mario Gaspar put a good cross into the box and it came off Ximo Navarro and into his own net (own goal).
The fans celebrated with the Mexican wave around the stadium and on the pitch the Yellows were in complete control. Then, Nicola Sansone put the cherry on top, tapping the ball home inside the six-yard box from a Cheryshev cross in the last play of the match. What a finish!
Lineups:
Villarreal CF: Barbosa; Mario, Álvaro (Bonera, m. 55), Víctor Ruiz, Jaume Costa; Castillejo (Cheryshev, m.80), Rodrigo, Trigueros, Fornals; Bakambu (Sansone, m. 70) and Bacca.
UD Las Palmas: Chichizola; Míchel, Ximo Navarro, Bigas (Aquilani, m. 69), Dani Castellano; Lemos (Aythami, m. 86), Vicente Gómez; Oussama (Remy, min. 4), Jonathan Viera, Vitolo; and Calleri.
Goals: 1-0. Min. 47: Bakambu. 2-0. Min 64: Mario Gaspar. 3-0. Min. 66: Ximo Navarro (og). 0-4. Min. 93: Sansone.
Referee: Fernández Borbalán (Andalusia, Spain). Cautioned: Víctor Ruiz for Villarreal; Lemos, Vicente Gómez, Viera, Míchel and Ximo Navarro for Las Palmas.
Match Information: Match corresponding to Matchday 9 of the LaLiga Santander played at the Estadio de la Cerámica.
