Villarreal beat Austria Wien and are on track to qualify for the last 16 of the Conference League
Villarreal edged out Austria Wien by the narrowest of margins (0-1). The Yellows won the game at Viola Park thanks to a solitary goal from Nico Jackson late in the game. The win in Vienna puts Unai Emery’s side on course to qualify for the last 16 of the UEFA Europa Conference League, subject to Thursday’s other Group C fixture.
The Submarine arrived in Vienna aiming for their fourth continental win of the group stage. Emery’s side knew that a win on Austrian soil would put qualification for the last 16 of the UEFA Europa Conference League on the right track.
With this ambitious aim in mind, Emery put together a strong eleven to take to the field at Viola Park. Pepe Reina was back in goal. In defence, he tried out a new backline of Aïssa Mandi, Raúl Albiol, Jorge Cuenca and Johan Mojica. In midfield, Manu Morlanes and Francis Coquelin were in the middle, while Álex Baena and Samu Chukwueze were out wide. In attack, the duo of Gio Lo Celso and Arnaut Danjuma were the men leading the line.
The Yellows took control of the ball, but failed to create clear goal-scoring opportunities in the first 45 minutes. Only a couple of shots from Danjuma, which went wide, troubled the fans in the Viennese stadium.
In the second half, the Submarine struggled find a way to break down the home team’s tight defence and the first real chance of the second half fell in Austria Wien’s favour. Keles unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the area that Reina saved fantastically.
In the last minutes, Villarreal scored the winning goal through Jackson. In a lightning move, the Senegalese striker sent a fantastic back-heeled assist from José Luis Morales into the net. It was enough to secure the three points and a fourth win in four group games.
Lineups
FK Austria Wien: Fruchtl; Teigl (Tabakovic, m. 90), Ranftl, Galvao, Meisl; Braunoder, Fischer, Polster; Gruber (Keles, m. 65), Fitz (Dramé, m. 82), Jukic (Holland, m. 65).
Villarreal CF: Reina; Mandi, R. Albiol (Pau, m. 46), Cuenca, J. Mojica; Chukwueze (Yeremy, m. 68), Coquelin (A. J. Morales, m. 56), Morlanes, Álex B.; Lo Celso (Capoue, m. 80), Danjuma (N. Jackson, m. 56).
Goals: 0-1. Min. 87: N. Jackson.
Referee: Kabakov (Bulgaria). Booked: Ranftl, Polster (FK Austria Wien); Lo Celso, Morlanes, Álex B (Villarreal).
Matchday information: Match between FK Austria Wien and Villarreal CF, corresponding to Matchday 4 of the 2022/23 UEFA Europa Conference League Group Stages at Viola Park.
