Villarreal fall to Pafos (1-0) and see their Champions League hopes take a hit
Villarreal were beaten by Cypriot side Pafos in a match where, despite making a lively start, the Yellows were unable to make the most of their chances. To make matters worse, the Submarine were caught cold at the start of the second half, conceding what would ultimately prove to be the only goal of the game.
The result means Marcelino’s side remain winless and see their hopes of progressing in the Champions League take a blow, with four matches still to play in the League Phase of the competition.
The game began with plenty of action, and Mikautadze had a great chance in the sixth minute. Mourinho whipped in a fine cross and Moleiro headed it into Mikautadze’s path, leaving him one-on-one with the keeper inside the six-yard box. The Frenchman tried an acrobatic finish but failed to make clean contact, and the ball ended up safely in the Cypriot goalkeeper’s hands.
Just three minutes later, Pape Gueye found himself through on goal in another promising chance, but the Pafos keeper read his intentions perfectly and came out on top in the duel.
After those early opportunities, Pafos dropped deep and the tempo slowed. Villarreal pushed forward time and again, but the home side held firm and shut down any space.
Barely a minute after the restart, came a real blow for the Yellows. From a tight corner delivery, Luckassen got ahead of his markers and headed in the opener for the home side.
Villarreal tried to raise the tempo after going behind and poured forward in search of an equaliser, but the hosts defended resolutely. In the 64th minute, Tani Oluwaseyi connected with a fine downward header that Michael, the Pafos goalkeeper, anticipated well and managed to hold.
Just four minutes later, Oluwaseyi again threatened, bursting down the right and unleashing a powerful cross-shot from a tight angle that skimmed past the post. Time ticked away as Marcelino’s men looked for a way through the Cypriot defence, but the equaliser never came.
