Villarreal slip up in a game in which they deserved more
Villarreal picked up a point against Cádiz that probably could have been three based on what happened on the pitch. Villarreal were the better side against Cádiz, who withstood the Submarine’s final push and were unable to secure a win that would have been an important step towards survival.
At the Estadio de la Cerámica, Villarreal and Cádiz, two teams currently in the lower half of the league table, were facing each other in search of three points that would have allowed them to look upwards.
Villarreal came out of the blocks and in the seventh minute of the game they had their first big chance of the match. Kiko Femenía quickly took a free kick near the bench area looking for a direct shot that almost caught Conan Ledesma off guard, but the ball did not find the net.
Cádiz’s replies came on the counter with the continuous runs of Iván Alejo and Navarro down the flanks, who looked for crosses to Chris Ramos and Rubén Sobrino, the front two today for the visitors.
Before the break, Baena tried his luck with a shot just inside Ledesma’s right-hand post, but Ledesma managed to save on the second attempt. At half-time, Villarreal and Cádiz were level at 0-0.
At half-time Marcelino moved the bench and both Guedes and Morales came on in place of Ilias and Sorloth.
In the 54th minute Álex Baena went down inside the area after being stepped on by Iza Carcelén, but referee González Fuertes considered that it was not enough to award a penalty.
The minutes ticked by, but Villarreal were still looking for the goal that would break the deadlock. In the 63rd minute Jorge Cuenca filtered a great pass to Gerard, who was about to finish in the six-yard box when a Cádiz defender snatched the ball away from him to prevent the striker’s shot.
In the 74th minute, a combination between Coquelin and Baena inside the box ended with a shot from the Roquetas de Mar native in an area close to the penalty spot that went narrowly wide.
The Submarine tried to the end in every way they could, but could not find the goal. In the end, Villarreal and Cádiz shared the points at La Cerámica after a goalless draw.
The next match for Marcelino García Toral’s side will be on Saturday 10th February, when they take on Deportivo Alavés at Mendizorroza, kick-off at 2pm CET.
Line-ups:
Villarreal CF: Jorgensen; Kiko F., R. Albiol, J. Cuenca, Alberto M.; I. Akhomach (min. 46, A. J. Morales), Santi C.V. (min. 70, Capoue), Coquelin, Álex B.; Gerard, Sorloth (min. 46, Guedes).
Cádiz CF: Ledesma; Iza, Jorge Mere, V. Chust, Lucas Pires; I. Alejo (min. 75, Juanmi), Alex, Escalante, Navarro (min. 82, Brian); Sobrino, Chris Ramos (min. 82, Maxi. G).
Árbitro: Booked: Coquelin, Álex B., Santi C. V. (Villarreal CF); Iza (Cádiz CF).
Matchday information: Match between Villarreal CF and Cádiz CF, corresponding to Matchday 23 of the 2023/24 LALIGA EA SPORTS at the Estadio de la Cerámica. Attendance: 17,183.
