Villarreal, despite numerous chances in the second half, are defeated by the Basque side
Villarreal were defeated by Real Sociedad (0-3). A remarkable first half from Imanol Alguacil’s side, in which Mikel Merino, Zubimendi and Kubo scored, was enough to beat a Submarine that, especially in the second half, deserved a much better result given the numerous chances they had in the second 45 minutes.
On Saturday afternoon at the Estadio de la Cerámica, Real Sociedad, as Marcelino pointed out in his pre-match press conference, were one of the best teams in the competition at the moment.
Real Sociedad were the first to make their presence felt. In the fourth minute of the match, Mikel Merino headed just inside the six-yard box from a cross, forcing Filip Jörgensen into a fine save to keep out the opening goal.
The Yellow Submarine’s first warning came in the 19th minute. Baena, with a great cross, found Gerard Moreno at the far post, who headed the ball to the penalty spot for José Luis Morales, who was unable to get his shot away under pressure from two Txuri-urdin defenders.
Equality was the dominant tone in the remaining minutes of the first half. Villarreal waited in their own half for the opportunity to counter-attack against a Real Sociedad side who, through long transitions, were looking for a gap in the home defence.
Real’s insistence paid off in the 38th minute. Take Kubo took a corner that Mikel Merino headed in at the near post to make it 0-1.
Real Sociedad would extend their lead before the break. Again from a corner – although this time from a short corner – Zakharyan shot from the edge of the area and Zubimendi, before it could reach the goal, stuck the toe of his boot in to deflect the ball away and make it 0-2.
Marcelino García Toral’s side reacted positively to the visitors’ goal with a double chance in the 44th minute. Dani Parejo’s left-footed lash from the edge of the area was blocked by Remiro and Gerard Moreno, in front of goal, failed to beat the Txuri-urdin goalkeeper with a spectacular intervention.
Real Sociedad made no mistake with their next chance. Kubo, with his right foot, finished off an elaborate move by Imanol Alguacil’s side to make it 0-3.
The game ended at the end of the first half with 0-3 on the scoreboard.
Marcelino moved the bench at half-time in search of a reaction. Ilias came on in place of Altimira. And in the first five minutes of the second half, Villarreal intimidated the visitors’ defence with an electric Akhomach and the attacking runs of Alfonso Pedraza, but without finding a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
Villarreal kept trying. In the 65th minute Villarreal managed to get on the counter-attack with Morales, who gave the ball to Akhomach who, after settling the ball to his left foot, shot at goal, but again Alex Remiro saved his side. Just four minutes later, Pedraza left Baena alone with a magnificent pass, but the Roquetas de Mar player was again denied by Remiro.
One of the biggest news of the game for the Submarine came in the 73rd minute, when Sorloth came on and returned from the injury he suffered against Atlético de Madrid on 12 November.
In the end, the Submarine lost 0-3 to Real Sociedad at the Estadio de la Cerámica.
Villarreal will return to LALIGA competition on Sunday 17th December, when they take on Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu at 9pm in the game corresponding to Matchday 17 of the competition. Likewise, three days earlier, on Thursday 14th, they will face Stade Rennais in the last matchday of the Europa League group stage.
Line-ups:
Villarreal CF: Jörgensen; Foyth, R. Albiol, J. Cuenca, A. Pedraza; A. Alti (min. 46. I. Akhomach), Capoue, Parejo (min. 90, R. Terrats), Álex B.; Gerard (min. 90, Brereton Díaz), A. J. Morales (min. 73, Sorloth).
Real Sociedad: A. Remiro; H. Traoré, Aritz, Zubeldia (min. 59, Pacheco), Tierney; Brais Méndez (min. 29, Turrientes), Zubimendi, Merino, Zakharyan (min. 77, Aihen); Kubo, Sadiq (min. 77, Carlos Fdez).
Goals: 0-1. Min. 38: Mikel Merino. 0-2. Min. 41: Zubimendi. 0-3. Min. 45: Kubo.
Referee: Melero López. Booked: Capoue, A. Pedraza (Villarreal CF); Zubimendi (Real Sociedad).
Incidencias: Match between Villarreal CF and Real Sociedad, corresponding to Matchday 16 of the 2023/24 LALIGA EA SPORTS season at the Estadio de la Cerámica. Attendance: 19,344.
