Villarreal lose against the side from Vigo at the Estadio de la Cerámica
Villarreal lost against RC Celta de Vigo at the Estadio de la Cerámica. The Yellows’ goal came from Samu Chukwueze, while the away side’s strikers were from Iago Aspas (2) and Pione Sisto.
Jav Calleja surprised by lining up with a 4-3-3, with the creativity falling to André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Vicente Iborra and Santi Cazorla. Up front was an attacking trident formed by Samu Chukwueze, Karl Toko Ekambi and Gerard Moreno.
The game was extremely open, with both teams looking dangerous in attack, and both sides looked to make the opposition defence uncomfortable.
The first real chance of the game fell to Celta. Sisto’s speed helped him get away from his marker, and he went one-on-one with Asenjo, with the Villarreal goalkeeper pulling off a magnificent save.
The Yellows responded. Gerard fired a powerful right-footed effort which just went past Sergio Álvarez’s right post. Calleja’s side even had the ball in the back of the net, but Gerard’s header was disallowed for offside.
Celta went ahead on the scoreboard in the 53rd minute. Once more, Sisto used his notable speed to get away and score past an oncoming Asenjo, who got a touch on the ball (0-1).
Villarreal reacted quickly, equalising just five minutes later. Xavi Quintillà got free down the left flank, crossed it low into the box for Chukwueze to fire it into the back of the net (1-1, m.58).
The Galician side went back ahead in the 79th minute. Aspas got on the end of a loose ball after a set piece (1-2).
Calleja pushed his side forward late on, bringing Javi Ontiveros on for Quintillà. The Yellows No.24 nearly equalised too, with his powerful effort hitting the bar in the 87th minute.
Celta killed off the game in the 94th minute. With Villarreal pushing forward, Aspas made it 1-3 on the counter attack. Next up for the Yellows is a game at Mestalla against Valencia (Saturday, 9pm CET).
Lineups:
Villarreal CF: Asenjo; Peña, Funes Mori, Pau, Quintillà (Ontiveros, m. 86); Chukwueze, Iborra (Moi Gómez, m. 56), Anguissa, Cazorla; Gerard, Toko Ekambi (Bacca, m. 76).
RC Celta: Sergio Álvarez, Hugo Mallo, Araújo, Aidoo, Olaza; Pape Cheikh (Fran Beltrán, m. 75), Lobotka, Denis Suárez (David Costas, m. 83); Brais Méndez (Santi Mina, m. 63), Iago Aspas, Sisto.
Goals: 0-1. Min. 53: Sisto. 1-1. Min. 58: Chukwueze. 1-2. Min. 79: Iago Aspas. 1-3. Min. 94: Iago Aspas.
Referee: Munuera Montero. Booked: Iborra, Funes Mori, Pau (Villarreal); Sergio Álvarez, Santi Mina (RC Celta).
Matchday information: LaLiga Matchday 14 at the Estadio de la Cerámica, in front of 17,352 spectators.
