Villarreal beat Ponferradina with goals by Bakambu (2) and Bacca at the Estadio de la Cerámica
Villarreal are in the draw for the Round of 16 of the Copa del Rey. The Yellow Submarine came back from a one goal deficit against Ponferradina (1-0 at the El Toralín stadium) thanks to a Bakambu brace and a third by Bacca (3-0). The Yellows put in a great performance and were rightful winners of the two-leg cup tie.
Before kick-off there was already great news for Villarreal. Sergio Asenjo returned to the starting lineup after nine months out due to an ACL injury. The fans gave the goalkeeper a standing ovation, who has once again shown he can come back from anything. However, the match started with an injury for Villarreal. Nico Sansone had to go off in the 12th minute after sustaining a muscular injury to his left calf (tomorrow he will undergo medical tests).
Javi Calleja set out with a starting eleven full of fresh faces and with three players from the Villarreal B team. In the final minutes of the match there were seven players on the pitch formed in the Yellows Academy (Pau, Jaume Costa, Rodrigo, Raba, Chuca, Fornals and Trigueros).
Chuca had a couple of clear chances in the first half. First the midfielder struck over the bar from inside the box and after that his control got away from him and he was unable to finish off a great play from the Yellows.
Villarreal’s first goal came just after the restart. Raba headed the ball on to Bakambu and the number 17 made no mistake, smashing the ball past Dinu (1-0). The French-Congolese striker on target once again.
Not once, but twice. Bakambu made it two moments later. Raba’s free kick was headed by Pau, Bacca blocked Dinu from getting to the ball and Bakambu was alert and sent the ball into the back of the net (2-0). ‘Bakagoal’ now has 14 goals this season in LaLiga (9), UEFA Europa League (3) and Copa del Rey (2).
Then Bacca joined in the action with a real work of art. Chuca played a driven ball back to the number 9 and Bacca set himself up with a sublime first touch and placed the ball around Dinu and into the far corner of the goal (3-0). One to remember. It could have been four at the end as well with a fantastic free kick by Manu Trigueros that struck the post.
Round of 16 draw next Tuesday
The Copa del Rey Round of 16 draw will take place next Tuesday 5th December (1pm CET).
Lineups:
Villarreal CF: Asenjo; Rukavina, Víctor Ruiz, Pau, Jaume Costa; Rodrigo, Raba, Chuca, Soriano (Bacca, m. 55); Sansone (Fornals, m. 12) and Bakambu (Trigueros, m. 74).
SD Ponferradina: Dinu; Jon García, Román (Ríos Reina, m. 49), Álvaro Moreno; Iago Díaz, Cidoncha (Pallarés, m. 55), Saúl, Andy, David Caiado; Jorge García (Isi, m. 65) and Yuri.
Goals: 1-0. Min. 46: Bakambu. 2-0. Min. 62: Bakambu. 3-0. Min. 63: Bacca.
Referee: Jaime Latre. Cautioned: Soriano.
Match Information: Match corresponding to the second leg of the Round of 32 of the Copa del Rey played at the Estadio de la Cerámica in front of 10,891 spectators.
