Villarreal fail to find their way in a match in which they conceded two penalties
Villarreal lost to Valencia CF (3-1) at Mestalla. The regional derby went the way of the home side in a match in which Gil Manzano awarded two penalties against the Submarine. That, added to the general lack of precision in the first hour of the match, condemned Marcelino’s side to be far from winning on their visit to the capital of the region.
The Submarine arrived at the regional clash with many absentees. Álex Baena and Comesaña were absent through suspension. Marcelino was also missing the injured Sorloth, Pedraza, Foyth and Yeremy. Nor was he able to count on Mandi, who has already signed up with Algeria to play in the African Cup of Nations.
A few minutes after the start of the regional derby, Valencia opened the scoring through Yaremchuk. The Ukrainian striker took advantage of an assist from Gayà to make it 1-0 before the fifth minute of the match. It was a blow for Marcelino’s men.
The early goal stunned the Submarine, who struggled to react to the blow and get back into the game. As if that wasn’t enough, the Yellows lost Raúl Albiol before the 20th minute. The captain left the field with a niggle, leading to an early substitution for Eric Bailly.
Halfway through the first half, Villarreal’s first chance came. Alberto Moreno struck a hard left-footed shot inside the box after latching on to a loose ball in the Valencia box. The shot was saved by Mamardashvili.
The Submarine looked to be waking up from their slumber. But Valencia struck again to make it 2-0. With a very controversial penalty and hardly any contact, Gil Manzano pointed to the spot and Pepelu made no mistake from the spot.
After a drab first half for the Yellows, in added time, Morales beat the home keeper in a move that didn’t make the scoreboard due to a tight offside call.
At the start of the second half, Gil Manzano was again in the spotlight when he awarded Valencia a second penalty. This time for a handball by Altimira, which was caused by a push on the Yellow player.
In the 73rd minute, Gerard pulled one back with a cross-shot inside the area after a great individual move by Ilias Akhomach, who beat José Gayà in the individual duel. With 3-1 in favour of the home side, the derby at Mestalla came to an end.
Line-ups:
Valencia CF: Mamardashvili; Foulquier, Mosquera, G. Paulista, Gayà (J. Vázquez, m. 78); Fran Pérez (Yarek, m. 86), Hugo G., Pepelu, Canós (Javi Guerra, m. 70); Hugo Duro (A. Marí, m. 86), Yaremchuk (Diego López, m. 70).
Villarreal CF: Jörgensen; A. Alti (Kiko F., m. 78), R. Albiol (E. Bailly, m. 17), J. Cuenca, Alberto M. (M. Trigueros, m. 78); I. Akhomach, Capoue (Coquelin, m. 65), Parejo, R. Terrats; Gerard, A. J. Morales (Brereton Díaz, m. 65).
Goals: 1-0. Min. 4: Yaremchuk. 2-0. Min. 27: Pepelu (p). 3-0. Min. 57: Pepelu (p). 3-1. Min. 73: Gerard.
Referee: Gil Manzano. Booked: Gayà, Diego López (Valencia CF); E. Bailly, Parejo, Capoue, R. Terrats, J. Cuenca (Villarreal CF).
Matchday information: Match between Valencia CF and Villarreal CF, corresponding to Matchday 19 of the 2023/24 LALIGA EA Sports season at Mestalla.
