The Submarine beat the Israel side with a Bacca double, and goals from Baena and Fer Niño, in a game that started more than an hour later due to heavy rainfall
Villarreal beat Maccabi Tel Aviv (4-0) convincingly thanks to a Carlos Bacca double and goals from Álex Baena and Fer Niño. The match was affected by heavy rainfall which meant the match be delayed by more than an hour. Despite that, Unai Emery’s side put on a show, staying unbeaten in Europe and consolidating their place as Group I leaders.
The biblical rain fell in Vila-real just before 9pm CET, which was when the game against Maccabi Tel Aviv should have started. The heavy rain that poured down on the Estadio de la Cerámica forced the game to be delayed until the weather improved.
The rain stopping, combined with the spectacular draining at the Yellows stadium, made the match possible, only an hour and ten minutes after the original kick-off time, at 10:10pm CET. It was then when the game took centre stage, leaving the meteorological conditions behind, and finally the show started at the Estadio de la Cerámica.
Emery once more made changes in European competition. Only Raúl Albiol and Vicente Iborra were in the team that started against Real Valladolid. Dani Parejo returned after his injury, while Yeremi Pino started for the first time and Ramiro Funes Mori was named in the starting XI, something which hadn’t happened previously this season.
The match started the best way possible for Villarreal, who lined up with a 4-3-3. In the fourth minute, the Submarine went ahead with a move off the training ground. Bacca was quicker than the defence and send the ball into the back of the net with a great near-post header after a perfect Dani Parejo corner.
The goal meant Villarreal were confident and calm, taking control of the ball and not giving Maccabi Tel Aviv any chance at all. Take Kubo, Baena and Yeremy put together a lot of impressive pieces of play in the opposition half. Emery’s side were very confident on the wet Estadio de la Cerámica pitch but were unable to generate more chances in the opening 45 minutes of the tie.
Just as in the first half, Villarreal needed little time to score in the second half, with just six minutes gone after the break. Once more Bacca, and once more with a header, found the back of the net for the Yellows, making the most of an excellent Take cross from the right.
With the score at 2-0, Emery made changes. Manu Trigueros, Pervis Estupiñán, Moi Gómez, Gerard Moreno and Fer Niño all had their opportunity to take part in the Yellows’ win. The latter played his first minutes with the first team this season.
In the 71st minute, a great piece of play between Bacca and Baena gave Villarreal their third goal of the night. The Colombian striker pulled off a fantastic back-heeled assist in the heart of the area for the midfielder to fire home from near the penalty spot.
With the outcome of the match now clear, and approaching the final moments, Gerónimo Rulli made a great save to deny Saborit, who headed towards goal. Fer Niño then joined the goalscoring party, scoring the Yellows’ fourth with a calm finish after a great Estupiñán assist.
The win over the Israeli team puts Emery’s side top of Group I with nine points, seeing the Yellows take a big step towards qualifying for the knockout rounds of the UEFA Europa League.
Lineups:
Villarreal CF: Rulli; Peña, Albiol, Funes Mori, Jaume Costa (Moi Gómez, m. 63); Iborra (Trigueros, m. 58), Parejo (Estupiñán, m. 58), Álex. B (Gerard, m. 72); Take, Yeremy, Bacca (Fer Niño, m. 72).
Maccabi Tel Aviv: Tenenbaum; Bitton, Hernández, Tibi, Baltaxa, Saborit; Cohen (Shechter, m. 68), Glazer (Peretz, m. 68), Karzev (Golasa, m. 60); Blackman (Pesic, min. 50), Ben Chaim (Bitton, m. 60).
Goals: 1-0. Min. 4: Bacca. 2-0. Min. 51: Bacca. 3-0. Min. 71: Álex. B. 4-0. Min. 80: Fer Niño.
Referee: Nikola Dabanovic (Montenegro). Booked: Funes Mori (Villarreal), Saborit (Maccabi Tel Aviv).
Matchday information: Match between Villarreal CF Maccabi Tel Aviv corresponding to Matchday 3 of the UEFA Europa League Group Stages at the Estadio de la Cerámica. The match, originally scheduled for 9pm CET, kicked off at 10:10pm CET due to heavy rainfall.
