Villarreal’s Dutch attacker scored a hat-trick to give the Yellows an important win
What a win for Villarreal! Unai Emery’s men knew that they needed to do their homework to get a good result at the Nuevo Los Cármenes ahead of the big match midweek against Juventus at the Estadio de la Cerámica, and they did just that. Villarreal beat Granada (1-4) with a hat-trick from Arnaut Danjuma, and a late goal from Moi Gómez.
Villarreal troubled the opposition goal first, and the chances came largely down the right flank, with Serge Aurier and Yeremy Pino both being electric and participating a lot. After a move down the right-hand side, Danjuma could have scored the opener with a powerful first-time effort, which just went wide. As well as the chances, the possession and the control of the game were going in the Yellows’ favour.
When the match reached the half-hour mark, Gil Manzano gave Villarreal a penalty after Manu Trigueros was brought down in the six-yard box. After various moments of uncertainty due to the VAR check, which overturned a red card that was shown to Uzuni for the challenge that was punished for the penalty, Danjuma was able to step up from 12 yards to place the ball into the back of the net.
Only five minutes after the opener, it was Danjuma who scored the second of the afternoon in Granada. The Dutch attacker went through on goal against Maximiano, dribbled past him and scored calmly. Thing were going perfectly for the Yellows, and with this positive score, they went into the break.
Robert Moreno’s side gave everything in the first ten minutes of the second half and they had some goalscoring chances, but Villarreal also had their own opportunities, with Maximiano making a great save as Danjuma went one-on-one with him. Sergio Asenjo did the same to deny Luis Suárez. It was a great match for neutrals.
Luis Milla, also from the penalty spot, managed to get one back for the home side, with an effort that went in off the post, just out of the reach of Asenjo. Emery looked for a quick reaction, and made a triple change, bringing on Alfonso Pedraza, Juan Foyth and Samu Chukwueze. The Nigerian had a chance just after coming on, but his effort, after a great Gio Lo Celso ball, was saved by the home goalkeeper.
Villarreal once more took control of the game, with long spells of possession and dangerous attacks, as well as a quick press after losing the ball that took any of Granada’s danger from counter-attacks away. The home side gave up after the third Villarreal goal, which also came from the penalty spot after Torrente blocked a Chukwueze effort with his arm. Danjuma stepped up from the penalty spot again to score his first hat-trick for Villarreal to seal the victory in an important win. In added time, Moi Gómez added the fourth and final goal of the match, with the goal also given after a VAR check which overturned an initial offside call.
Villarreal ended the match by beating a combative Granada side, who also needed the points. The Yellows were able to control the game when necessary and get the three points ahead of the historic game against Juventus this Tuesday at La Cerámica.
Lineups:
Granada: Maximiano; Quini (m. 46, Raúl Torrente), Víctor Díaz, Germán, C. Neva (m. 87, Soro); L. Milla, Gonalons (m. 13, Uzuni), Montoro J.M. (m. 74, Petrovic); Antonio Puertas, Molina (m. 87, Collado), L. Suárez.
Villarreal: S. Asenjo; Serge Aurier (m. 62, Foyth), Mandi, Pau, Estupiñán (m. 62, A. Pedraza); Parejo, Iborra, M. Trigueros (m. 82, Moi Gómez); Yeremy (m. 62, Chukwueze), Danjuma, Lo Celso.
Goals: 0-1. Min. 34: Danjuma. 0-2. Min. 39: Danjuma. 1-2. Min. 61: L. Milla. 1-3. Min 81: Danjuma. 1-4. Min. 96: Moi Gómez.
Árbitro: Gil Manzano. Booked: Germán, Uzuni, Raúl Torrente; Danjuma, Estupiñán, Serge Aurier, Chukwueze, S. Asenjo, Iborra (Granada).
Matchday information: Match between Granada and Villarreal, corresponding to Matchday 25 of the 2021/22 LaLiga season, at the Estadio Nuevo Los Cármenes.
