Villarreal U19s beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 with goals from Iker Adelantado, Hugo López and Dani Budesca to reach the next round
The Villarreal U19 team booked their place in the Round of 16 of the UEFA Youth League after defeating Bayer Leverkusen (3-2) in a thrilling and epic knockout match at the Mini Estadi. The groguets never stopped believing: although they took the lead through Iker Adelantado, they were ultimately forced to mount a superb comeback, completed thanks to further goals from Hugo López and Dani Budesca.
The Yellows came out with intent from the very first minute and quickly created danger. In the fourth minute, Dani Budesca broke down the right flank and came close to opening the scoring with a shot that whistled past the post.
Leverkusen responded from a set piece and forced Pau Polo to show his reflexes shortly afterwards, punching away a dangerous effort from Jonah Berghoff. And Villarreal’s answer came just a minute later, when Iker Adelantado scored a stunning goal (1-0, min. 9). The joy, however, was short‑lived, as Emmanuel Owen levelled the match in the 11th minute following a swift reaction from the German side (1-1).
The match then entered a frenetic phase. Moussa Diallo was close to restoring the Submarine’s lead from a corner, but it was Leverkusen who struck again, going ahead in the 18th minute through Ivan Massek (1-2). Despite the setback, Villarreal kept pushing and almost equalised in the 21st minute, when the German goalkeeper managed to stop Mauro Roca’s shot almost on the line. The high press from the Yellows continued to cause problems, with Iker Adelantado nearly dispossessing the goalkeeper and José Ángel Gaitán firing a shot saved by Simeon Rapsch. Moments before half‑time, Julio Arjona also came close with an effort that went just wide.
After the break, Villarreal U19s stuck to their plan: intensity, pressing and constant attacking intent. In the 50th minute, a Budesca cross was only millimetres away from being finished by Julio Arjona. Pau Polo came up big again in the 57th minute, saving with his foot in a one‑on‑one against Owen after a dangerous German counterattack. The Yellows kept pushing and creating chances, their reward arrived.
In the 71st minute, Hugo López levelled the tie with a spectacular direct free‑kick (2-2) that lifted the entire Mini Estadi to its feet. And without giving Leverkusen time to react, just two minutes later, Dani Budesca completed the comeback with Villarreal’s third goal (3-2) after an excellent assist from José Ángel Gaitán, sending the crowd into euphoria.
Villarreal showed maturity and character in managing the final minutes, resisting the German side’s constant attacks, who pushed forward with everything — including their goalkeeper. Pepe Reina’s team did not back down and thus secured their ticket to the UEFA Youth League round of 16.
Villarreal’s next opponent in the continental competition will be revealed on Friday at 1pm, when the draw for the round of 16 takes place.
