Villarreal CF were unable to take advantage of the chances they created in the first half and were defeated by Atlético de Madrid
The Yellow Submarine fell 2-0 in a very intense match at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. An early goal from Pablo Barrios and another from Nico González at the start of the second half, just as Villarreal were looking strongest, decided the game.
Atlético de Madrid started the match with high intensity, capitalising on a forced error from Sergi Cardona to take the lead. In the ninth minute, Pablo Barrios scored from Julián Alvarez’s pass to make it 1-0. Shortly after, Giuliano Simeone threatened, but his shot went wide.
From that point, Marcelino García Toral’s side grew into the game. Villarreal had two chances from Alberto Moleiro in the 15th and 21st minutes, but luck was not on their side. Just before half-time, Pepe had the clearest opportunity, smashing a shot against the crossbar, with Sergi Cardona unable to reach the rebound.
After the break, Villarreal kept the initiative and tried to get closer to the opposition goal. In the 48th minute, Cardona delivered a cross that Oblak cleared. Despite continuous attacking changes, that was Villarreal’s last real chance, and the hosts sealed the victory with a header from Nico González following a pass from Nico Llorente.
Villarreal’s next match will be on Tuesday 16th September at 9pm CEST, in the first group stage game of the Champions League against Tottenham Hotspur at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
