Villarreal falls to Sevilla despite playing well and a double from Bakambu
Villarreal fell on their visit to Sevilla (4-2), one of their main rivals chasing them down for the fourth place spot and a right to play in the Champions League, in a thrilling encounter. The Yellows turned the game around, after an initial Sevilla lead, with two goals from Bakambu, but finished the game unable to put a stop to the Sevilla onslaught in the second half. In spite of this, Marcelino’s side played well, were competitive and were by no means out of the game at any point.
Endeavouring to be organised in defence, Villarreal focused on positioning themselves well at the start of the match against a hungry Sevilla, who quickly started to exploit the wings, especially down the left side with Konoplyanka and Tremoulinas pressuring Villarreal’s back line. In the 23rd minute, after a few warning signs, Sevilla broke the deadlock. The locals went in front with a goal from Iborra, who hit an unstoppable strike after a great pass from a long run by Gameiro.
Then, in the 28th minute, the first goal came for the Submarine. Rukavina got forward showing great quality down the right wing and put in a cross which Adrián set down for Bakambu, who hit a perfectly executed driven shot, across goal, for the equalizer.
Sevilla tried to react and had two good chances, but at that moment the Submarine took the lead. In the 36th minute, Adrián sent a brilliant ball over the top to Bakambu and the Congolese striker made no mistake in firing home with a powerful volley. An absolute cracker from the African, who put an impressive end to a week in which he has scored no less than four goals.
Emotions kept racing in the second half. The locals continued to create dangerous chances and their fans were right behind them with every attempt. In the 51st minute, Víctor Ruiz attempted to clear the ball and bad luck saw it fly into the back of his own net levelling the score line.
With the game even again, Sevilla upped the pace, in the 64th minute Konoplyanka put Sevilla ahead once again with a long range shot, 3-2. Without respite, the tempo of the game remained high, back and forth stuff. In the 76th minute, Leo Baptistao had a great header from a Denis Suárez cross, but his effort was saved by an attentive Sergio Rico. The Yellows started to threaten the Sevilla goal in search of the equalizer.
The last quarter of an hour, with the sending off of Banega, saw Villarreal all over the home side. Denis Suárez, Bakambu and even Mario tried their luck to make it a draw, but Sevilla defended with everything they had and the Yellows couldn’t break through. In injury time, Reyes put the game to bed after finishing a quick counter attack from the locals to make it 4-2.
Line-ups:
Sevilla FC: Sergio Rico; Mariano, Rami, Carriço, Trémoulinas; N’Zonzi (Cristóforo, 16’), Iborra (Escudero, 75’); Konoplyanka (Reyes, 69’), Éver Banega, Krohn-Dehli; and Gameiro.
Villarreal CF: Areola; Mario, Bonera, Víctor Ruiz, Bailly (Castillejo, 46’); Bruno, Pina, Rukavina, Denis Suárez; Adrián (Leo Baptistao, 69’) and Bakambu.
Goals: 1-0, min. 22: Iborra. 1-1, min. 28: Bakambu. 1-2, min. 36: Bakambu. 2-2, min. 51: Víctor Ruiz, en propia puerta. 3-2, min. 64: Konoplyanka. 4-2, min. 90: Reyes.
Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (Madrid). Cautioned: Bonera (24’) for Villarreal and Krohn-Dehli (73’) for Sevilla. Sent off: Banega for a double yellow (79’).
