The Submarine overcome Osasuna and win the first of five finals in the race for fifth place

Villarreal want to be a Champions League team next season and this is what they showed against Osasuna at the Estadio de la Cerámica (4-2). The Groguets were better than the away side after a fantastic first half in which Marcelino’s side showed their best version of themselves and overcame a team that is also looking to get into Europe. In the second half, the Navarran side got back into the game by taking advantage of a mistake at the start of the game and a VAR penalty. Ayoze and Pepe dazzled, Barry scored and Baena returned as he knows best, handing out a decisive assist as soon as he stepped on to the pitch.

Marcelino’s side were back at home after last Sunday’s 1-0 win over RCD Espanyol in the match postponed due to the warnings of heavy rain which allowed them to regain fifth place in LALIGA EA Sports. A highly important objective, as fifth place this season guarantees direct access to the Champions League.

To achieve this, the Yellows face five finals, three of them at the Estadio de la Cerámica in front of their home fans. The first against Osasuna, who are also immersed in their continental objectives. The Navarrese side are in eighth place, which would see them play in the Conference League and fight for the Europa League places.

With so much at stake, the Submarine did not hesitate at the start. Within just two minutes, they opened the scoring with a brilliant strike from Ayoze Pérez (1-0). The striker received a pass from Dani Parejo on the edge of the area, broke free from his marker and, with an impressive left-footed drive, beat Sergio Herrera.

With the advantage on the scoreboard, Osasuna had the ball and Villarreal were attacking the spaces with great danger. In a transition, in the 20th minute, Pape Gueye crashed a powerful shot into the body of the goalkeeper. The midfielder go on the end of a pass into space from Thierno Barry, who had previously dealt excellently with an aerial ball in the air in a battle with the visiting defenders.

On the hour mark, Thierno Barry brought the Yellows fans to their feet to make it 2-0. The French striker chased down a fine pass into space from Nicolas Pepe and, in the battle for the ball with Unai Garcia, stretched out his right foot to beat Herrera, who was also in the hunt for the ball. He celebrated this important goal, which put La Cerámica at ease, with a lively dance.

Villarreal felt comfortable in the match and were enjoying their sweetest minutes. Before the 40-minute mark, Ayoze made it 3-0 thanks to a fantastic assist from an assured Nicolas Pepe. The second assist from the Ivorian and the second goal in the match for the forward who takes the lead in the race for the Zarra Trophy, the battle to be top Spanish scorer in LALIGA, with 16 goals this year.

With 3-0 on the scoreboard and a standing ovation from the stands, Marcelino’s side headed for the dressing rooms at the end of the first 45 minutes.

As soon as the second half got underway, Santi Comesaña came close to scoring the fourth of the afternoon. The Yellows No.14 got on the end of a ball from the left and hit the crossbar. In the second half, the home side continued to accumulate chances, and despite slowing down the pace of play, they were still in control of the game.

From the 65th minute onwards, the game changed slightly. A mistake in the home team’s ball distribution led to Osasuna’s first goal. Rubén García took advantage of a pass from Budimir to close the gap on the scoreboard and bring Vicente Moreno’s side back into the game.

After the goal, in the 70th minute, Marcelino moved the bench and introduced Buchanan and the always magical Álex Baena, who, in his first contact with the ball, set up the fourth goal. He drove down the left until he reached the byline, crossed for Nicolas Pepe to make it 4-1 and round off a fantastic individual performance.

In the 80th minute, Quintero Gonzalez awarded a penalty for a Cardona stamping on Ruben Peña when he had already played the ball backwards. Once again the refereeing controversy was present at the Estadio de la Cerámica. Aimar Oroz, from the penalty spot, beat Luiz Júnior to make it 4-2.

Five minutes from time, Ayoze Pérez tried to score a hat-trick with an acrobatic finish from Denis Suárez’s right-wing cross. The Yellows managed to manage the advantage until the final whistle and deservedly took all three points. A win that keeps them in fifth place for another week. Four finals to go.