Marcelino’s side return to winning ways at the Estadio de la Cerámica thanks to a Morales hat-trick
Marcelino’s Villarreal are now winning in LALIGA. Villarreal overcame Osasuna (3-1) in a tough match in which José Luis Morales emerged to score his first hat-trick in the First Division and guide the Submarine to a very important victory. With this victory, the Submarine managed to break the bad dynamic at the Estadio de la Cerámica against an opponent that put the home side in difficulty.
The Submarine returned home to the Estadio de la Cerámica to welcome Osasuna in what was Marcelino García Toral’s league debut in his second spell as Villarreal CF coach.
The Yellows came into the game well and enjoyed some good minutes in the early stages of the match. However, Osasuna had the first chance. Filip saved the Submarine with a fantastic save from Budimir’s close range shot.
Soon after, Villarreal replied with a shot from Alfonso Pedraza to a precise cross from the right flank by Altimira. This was the best chance of the first half for the home side, along with a Morales header that failed to find the target just before half-time.
In between the Submarine’s chances, Osasuna grew into the game and forced Filip to be at his best. In the minutes of the visitors’ superiority, the Danish goalkeeper made a superb intervention to keep the score level at the Estadio de la Cerámica. Particularly brilliant was the one-on-one save he made from Rubén Peña, brilliantly taking the ball away from his feet when the player from Avila was heading towards the yellow goal.
The Navarrese side continued their good form in the second half. The Submarine maintained their defensive solidity until they were able to find an effective way through a magical triangulation between Baena, Gerard and Morales. The ‘commander’ pushed the ball into the net after a fabulous pass from the Yellows No.7, who broke between the lines and received a fantastic pass into space from Álex Baena. Villarreal made it 1-0.
With the lead on the scoreboard, Marcelino’s team attacked the spaces, looking for quick transitions behind the visitors’ backline with the intention of killing the game. In the 70th minute, Morales took the ball with a fantastic control in his own half and began an eternal gallop towards goal. The commander stood in front of Herrera and beat him with a masterly finish. It made it 2-0 and cheered on a crowd hungry for victory in what had so far been a difficult campaign at home.
Although the game seemed to be going in the Submarine’s favour, it was far from over at La Cerámica. Osasuna reacted strongly to Villarreal’s second goal and quickly pulled one back with a Catena goal from a set piece.
What might otherwise have been a blow to their morale brought a firm response. Within a single minute, Morales – set to be the main character – scored the third from a counter-attack initiated by Baena. The striker from Madrid scored his second hat-trick as a Groguet. The first in LALIGA EA Sports of his entire career. Reborn in this new Marcelino’s team.
Line-ups:
Villarreal CF: Jörgensen; Foyth, R. Albiol, Cuenca, A. Pedraza (Alberto M., m. 88); A. Alti (I. Akhomach, m. 68), Capoue (Santi C. V., m. 68), Parejo, Álex B.; A. J. Morales (Brereton Díaz, m. 88), Gerard (M. Trigueros, m. 79).
CA Osasuna: S. Herrera; Areso, Catena, David García, J. Mojica; Moncayola (Raúl, m. 64), Torró (Rubén García, m. 77), Aimar (José Arnaiz, m. 77); R. Peña (Chimy Ávila, m. 68), Budimir (Iker Muñoz, m. 77), Moi Gómez.
Goals: 1-0. Min. 58: A. J. Morales. 2-0. Min. 70: A. J. Morales. 2-1. 78: Catena. 3-1. Min. 80: A. J. Morales.
Referee: De Burgos Bengoetxea.
Matchday information: Match between Villarreal CF and CA Osasuna, corresponding to Matchday 14 of the 2023/24 LALIGA EA Sports season, at the Estadio de la Cerámica. Attendance: 16,389.
