Top scorer Gerard Moreno, with a double, guides Villarreal to the victory at Butarque
Villarreal got their first win of the season, brilliantly and convincingly beating CD Leganés 0-3 at Butarque. A Gerard Moreno double and a Jonathan Silva own goal meant the Yellow Submarine came away with three points. The two goals from the Catalan striker, who is on fire in front of goal, mean he is currently top scorer in LaLiga, with five strikes to his name.
To face Leganés, Javi Calleja made a total of three changes to his starting XI from the draw against Real Madrid at La Cerámica. Sergio Asenjo came in as goalkeeper, replacing Andrés Fernández, who had been the goalkeeper for the Yellows so far this season. Furthermore Samu Chukwueze and Karl Toko Ekambi were on the bench, with Carlos Bacca and André-Frank Zambo Anguissa replacing him at Butarque.
The opening moments of the game fell to the Yellows, who took charge of the tie. Leganés found themselves pegged back in their own half, trying to get the ball and using the counter attack as their main arm. The first chances of the game fell t the home side, who tried to surprise Asenjo with two long-range efforts, first from José Arnaiz and then from Óscar Rodríguez. The Yellows goalkeeper saved both strikes without many problems.
With ten minutes gone, Villarreal got in behind their opponents’ defence, with a quick move that saw Bacca approach Juan Soriano’s area. Knocked off balance by a Leganés defender, the Colombian striker was unable to make proper contact when making his shot.
In the 22nd minute, Leganés put together a quick counter-attack down the left, which saw Óscar denied once more by Asenjo, who pushed it out for a corner.
The away side responded quickly. Only three minutes later, Gerard put Villarreal ahead. The Catalan striker, after bringing the ball down brilliantly on his chest, stroked the ball into the top-right corner. The Yellows No.7 continued his red-hot form in front of goal, scoring his fourth in four goals so far this season. The assist, pure class, came from the magic Santi Cazorla.
The goal came from a great chance for Zambo Anguissa, whose attempt from the edge of the area saw Chidozie Awaziem brought out of position.
The Yellow Submarine’s goal pushed Calleja’s men on. In the 29th minute, Bacca could have made it two with a great header that made Soriano have to pull of a fantastic save.
In the 38th minute, Villarreal’s second goal arrived. Zambo Anguissa won the ball in the opposition’s half, leading to a quick counter. A low cross from Xavi Quintillà was diverted into his own net by Silva.
After half-time, Leganés stepped up the pace, trying to get a goal back, giving their all early on, but as the half went on, Villarreal once more took control of the tie.
In added time, Gerard, with a shot from the edge of the area, scored his second of the game, killing off the tie, helping the Yellows get their first win of the season.
Lineups:
CD Leganés: Juan Soriano; Bustinza, Awaziem, Siovas, Jonathan Silva; Óscar (Aitor, m. 62), Mesa, Rubén Pérez, José Arnaiz; Braithwaite, En-Nesyri (Guido, m. 45).
Villarreal CF: S. Asenjo; Mario Gaspar, R. Albiol, Pau, Quintillà; Iborra, Anguissa, S. Cazorla (R. Peña, m. 62), Moi Gómez (J. Ontiveros, m. 87); Bacca (Toko Ekambi, m. 75), Gerard.
Goals: 0-1. Min. 25: Gerard. 0-2. Min. 38: Jonathan Silva (OG). 0-3. Min. 94: Gerard.
Referee: Medié Jiménez. Booked: Rubén Pérez, Roque Mesa (CD Leganés).
Matchday information: Match between CD Leganés and Villarreal CF, corresponding to Matchday 4 of LaLiga 2019/20 at the Estadio Municipal Butarque, in front of an attendance of 7,670.
