Villarreal beat Sporting CP and take a big step towards reaching the Round of 16
A real morale booster. Villarreal picked up a very important and prestigious European win at the José Alvalade (0-1). Victory against Sporting CF strengthens the Submarine as they get back to winning ways after a good all-round performance in Portugal. Javi Calleja’s side were clearly better than the locals and as a result take a big step forward in their fight to reach the UEFA Europa League Round of 16.
Villarreal set up in a 3-5-2 and Calleja changed some of the faces in the starting lineup that played in this formation against Real Valladolid in the league. Andrés Fernández was brought in as keeper, Mario Gaspar and Víctor Ruiz came in at the back and Trigueros, Javi Fuego, Chukwueze and Bacca all put in great performances, only Pedraza, Álvaro, Funes Mori and Fornals had started in the previous game.
An unbeatable start. Only two minutes after the opening whistle, in the first chance of the game, Villarreal took the lead. Nigerian winger Samu Chukwueze set off down the right flank, beat his defender and sent a cross into the danger area. The ball fell before Alfonso Pedraza, who charged into the box to meet it and followed through to smash it into the back of the net. No chance for Salin.
Villarreal also came out all guns blazing in the second half. Dominating possession and with their heads firmly in the game, piling the pressure on the locals. In the 50th minute, Pablo Fornals’ effort from close-range was saved by Salin and went out for a corner.
In the 57th minute, it was Sporting CP’s turn. Coates had a go with a shot across goal but his strike was stopped by Andrés Fernández who denied the Uruguayan the equaliser.
As the clock approached 70 minutes, several things happened that changed the game. Namely, in the 68th minute Andrés Fernández made a sublime save from a Bas Dost shot, after great individual play by Raphinha. The Dutch striker had the best chance of the game for the Portuguese side.
Five minutes later Sporting went down to ten men after Acuña got sent for for two yellow cards. A minute earlier the locals had also hit the post.
The Yellow Submarine held on to their one-nil lead to earn a victory on their visit to the José Alvalade stadium. The second leg will take place next Thursday at the Estadio de la Cerámica to determine which side will progress to the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 (6:55pm CET).
Lineups:
Sporting CP: Salin; Gaspar (Ristovski, m. 27), Coates, André Pinto, Acuña, Miguel Luís, Petrovic (Wendel, m. 69), Bruno Fernandes; Dost, Raphinha and Cabral (Phellype, m. 70).
Villarreal CF: Andrés; Mario Gaspar, Álvaro, Víctor Ruiz, Funes Mori, Pedraza; Javi Fuego, Trigueros (Cáseres, m. 61), Fornals (Iborra, m. 79), Chukwueze (Raba, m. 73); and Bacca.
Goals: 0-1. Min. 2: Pedraza.
Referee: Clément Turpin. Booked: Miguel Luís, Raphinha, Bruno Fernandes and Phellype for Sporting; Cáseres and Andrés Fernández for Villarreal. Sent off: Acuña (76’).
Match Information: First leg of the Round of 32 of the UEFA Europa League between Sporting CP and Villarreal CF played at the José Alvalade stadium in front of 27,134 spectators. A minute of silence was held in memory of Emiliano Sala.
