Unai Emery’s side overcome Zamora and move into the Copa de Rey Round of 32 thanks to goals from Bacca, Yeremy, Fer Niño and Raba
Villarreal beat Zamora (1-4) and won their second game in this season’s Copa del Rey in a game dominated by the Yellows, who showed their quality against a hard-working opponent. The Yellows’ win at an icy Ruta de la Plata moves the Submarine into the last 32 of the knockout tournament. The away side’s goals came from Carlos Bacca, Yeremy Pino, Fer Niño and Dani Raba.
Unai Emery lined up for Round 2 of the Copa del Rey with a much-changed starting XI. Étienne Capoue made his debut for the Yellows, while the Basque head coach also decided to put Sofian Chakla at right-back, with Juan Foyth returning to the centre of defence and Jaume Costa once more featuring in midfield.
Around 2,000 spectators were at the Ruta de la Plata to enjoy the game in the cold temperatures. One of the areas by the goal in Zamora had a clear layer of ice on it.
During the opening moments of the tie, Villarreal showed their quality, taking control of possession and playing in the opposition half. Before the 20-minute mark, Bacca could have opened the scoring after getting hold of a loose ball in the heart of the box. The chance came after a great ball from Álex Baena to Pervis Estupiñán, who was denied by the home goalkeeper.
Only three minutes later, it was Yeremy who had an excellent chance in his boots to put the Yellows ahead. A counter- attack led by Costa saw the No.21 play a great through ball to the Canarian winger, who after getting past a defender with a nice piece of footwork, was denied by a great stop from home goalkeeper Martin Mapisa, who was at full stretch.
The third great chance for the Yellows fell to Samu Chukwueze, who dribbled around the goalkeeper after a ball over the top, but after cutting back, his shot hit a defender on the line.
The goal finally came, with the fourth good chance. Bacca put the Submarine ahead with a trademark goal. The Yellows No.9 got on the end of a great Chukwueze goal, to dribble past Mapisa and open the scoring comfortably.
Despite conceding a goal, the home goalkeeper was the standout man of the match. After the away goal, he made two great saves to deny Alex Baena. The Zimbabwean goalkeeper was keeping Zamora alive, with the home side struggling to control Emery’s team’s attacks.
With the 45-minute mark approaching, Yeremy earned recognition from the home fans, scoring a great goal. The winger dribbled past his opponent, and placed a perfect shot into the bottom corner. The goal led to applause from the fans at the Ruta de la Plata.
Zamora did get one back before half-time, however. Carlos Ramos got on the scoreboard with an unstoppable shot from more than 40 metres out, flying into the top corner of Gerónimo Rulli’s goal.
After coming out from the dressing rooms after the half-time break, the home side were clearly motivated by that goal and were pushed on by their fans. This saw them step forward and dominate the early moments of the second half.
To regain control of the game, Emery made a triple substitution with an hour on the clock. Niño, Moi Gómez and Dani Parejo took to the icy Zamora pitch, reaplacing Bacca, Chukwueze and Costa.
In the 72nd minute, Niño once more showed his goalscoring instinct, scoring Villarreal’s third. A great header from a corner increased the Yellows’ lead.
Raba joined the goalscoring party, making it 1-4 for the Submarine, beating Mapisa with a great finish, after a lovely ball that sent him through from Moi Gómez.
That was the last goal of a game, sealing Villarreal’s place in the last 32 of the Copa del Rey.
Lineups:
Zamora CF: Mapisa, Parra, Coque (Mese, m. 76), Iñigo Piña, Carlos Ramos, Escudero (Valentín Prieto, m. 72), Rocha (Dani Hernández, m. 45), Guille Perero (A. Romero, m. 76), Abel Conejo (Juanan, m. 53), Adri Herrera, A. Crespo.
Villarreal CF: Rulli; Sofian R., Foyth, Funes Mori, Estupiñán; Baena (M. Trigueros, m. 72), Capoue, J. Costa (Parejo, m. 62); Chukwueze (Moi Gómez, m. 62), Bacca (Fer Niño, m. 62), Yeremy (Dani Raba, m. 85).
Goals: 0-1. Min. 30: Bacca. 0-2. Min. 42: Yeremy. 1-2. Min. 45: Carlos Ramos. 1-3. Min. 72: Fer Niño. 1-4. Min. 87: Dani Raba.
Referee: Valentín Pizarro Gómez.
Matchday information: Game between Zamora CF and Villarreal CF, corresponding to Round 2 of the 2020/21 Copa del Rey at the Ruta de la Plata.
