Villarreal CF fell in a tough match at the RCDE Stadium (3-1)
Villarreal CF lost to RCD Espanyol (3-1) away from home in a competitive and demanding encounter that swung in the blue and whites’ favour in the end. The Yellows responded to Hernán Pérez’s early goal when Toko Ekambi netted just before the break. In the second half it was Espanyol that came out on top though, Darder and Piatti scoring late on to give the home side the three points.
RCD Espanyol came out all guns blazing. The blue and whites dictated the intensity from the off, playing to a high tempo and dominating the first half an hour of play by creating plenty of chances on the counterattack. The Yellow Submarine kept them at bay for as long as they could but after just six minutes in Hernán Pérez found a way through. After a counterattack led by Borja Iglesias, Pérez lobbed Asenjo to put the locals in front. In the following minutes, Villarreal, and especially Sergio Asenjo, fought off everything Espanyol threw at them, Borja Iglesias coming close to making it two with his head.
Just before the break, Villarreal, who had got better and better as the game went on, took advantage of a set play to net the equaliser. Layún played a great ball over the top and the ball was flicked on by an Espanyol defender into the path of Toko Ekambi, who made no mistake by firing the ball under Diego López. Then the whistle blew for half time after an intense and hard-fought first half.
After the restart, the Yellows lifted their performance, keeping possession of the ball more and forcing Espanyol back into their own half. However, ten minutes from the end, Sergi Darder put the home side back in front after converting an assist from Melendo from out wide. Espanyol’s second spurred Villarreal on and they could have equalized again, this time through Gerard Moreno, who missed a one on one chance against Diego López.
Going all out for the equaliser, Villarreal put Raba and Alfonso Pedraza on and the youngsters attacked in earnest, but with no reward. In added time, Piatti scored the third for Espanyol, taking advantage of a through ball into space.
Lineups:
RCD Espanyol: Diego López; Javi López, Mario Hermoso, Dídac Vilá; Marc Roca, Darder, Granero (Óscar Melendo, m. 65); Hernán Pérez (Piatti, m. 72), Sergio García and Borja Iglesias (Leo Baptistao, m. 77).
Villarreal CF: Asenjo; Miguelón (Raba, m. 80), Álvaro, Víctor Ruiz (Pedraza, m. 85), Jaume Costa; Layún, Trigueros, Funes Mori, Fornals; Toko Ekambi (Bacca, m. 66) and Gerard.
Goals: 1-0. Min. 6: Hernán Pérez. 1-1. Min. 45: Toko Ekambi. 2-1. Min. 78: Darder. 3-1. Min. 92: Piatti.
Referee: Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea: Booked: David López, Mario Hermoso and Darder for Espanyol; Miguelón and Funes Mori for Villarreal.
Match Information: Match corresponding to Matchday 8 of LaLiga played at the RCDE Stadium in front of an attendance of 20,032.
