Villarreal beat Mallorca at home thanks to a Bacca goal and pick up their second consecutive win
Villarreal take away all three points against Mallorca in the first game back at the Estadio de la Cerámica thanks to a vital goal by Carlos Bacca from a Chukwueze cross. It was a hard-fought victory that tested the Yellows right until the final whistle. The Submarine pick up their second win in a row as well as two clean sheets, giving them the right to dream of European football.
17,000 photos of Yellows season-ticket holders filled the stands at the Estadio de la Cerámica thanks to the #UnitsMésQueMai (United Now More Than Ever) initiative launched by the club to make sure Yellows fans could back their team symbolically and completely free of charge.
Javi Calleja set up with a 4-4-2 that became a 4-3-3 when the Yellows attacked. Chukwueze pulled out all the stops on the right wing from the first minute. Mallorca lined up with three centre-backs and two wing-backs, with hardworking, quality players in the middle and the ever dangerous Cucho Hernández up front.
The match got off to a frantic start. The Balearic side had the first chance on goal with a spectacular strike from long range by Baba that rattled the crossbar (m. 6).
After that scare came elation. The Yellow Submarine took the lead moments later thanks to a spell of brilliance by Chukwueze down the flank to feed Bacca, a predator waiting to pounce in the six-yard box. The Nigerian sped down the wing, getting away from his defender with a cheeky chip and crossed the ball to the second post where the Colombian made no mistake, guiding the ball into the open net (m. 15).
Villarreal were dominating possession while Mallorca waited for their chance to attack on the counter.
After the break Villarreal almost made it two with a great piece of play involving Alcácer and Bacca to set up Trigueros. The Yellow no.14 was forced to get his shot off quickly but it was kept out with a stretching save from Reina.
Mallorca pushed forward in search of the equaliser. So, it was Villarreal’s turn to look to cause danger with a counterattack. The visitors could have equalised in the 73rd minute, but Cucho Hernández’s shot at the far post hit the side netting.
In the final minutes and after the substitutions were made, Calleja changed things up. The Yellows boss put three at centre-back with Peña and Quintillà as wing-backs. Up top, Gerard and Chukwueze led the attack.
Mallorce didn’t give up. Demonstrated by another superb strike by Baba that hit the crossbar again.
Villarreal picked up another hugely important three points towards their dream of playing European football next season.
The Submarine’s next match is against Granada at the Nuevo Los Cármenes stadium (Friday, 7:30pm CEST).
Lineups:
Villarreal CF: Asenjo; Mario, Albiol, Pau, Alberto Moreno (Quintillà, m. 69); Chukwueze, Anguissa, Trigueros (Rubén Peña, m. 84), Cazorla (Moi Gómez, m. 46); Bacca (Gerard, m. 58) and Paco Alcácer (Morlanes, m. 69).
RCD Mallorca: Reina; Pozo (Sastre, m. 84), Fran Gámez, Valjent (Trajkovski, m. 66), Raillo, Sedlar, Fran Gámez; Take (Budimir, m. 58), Baba, Febas (Salva Sevilla, m. 66), Lago Júnior (Chavarría, m. 84); and Cucho Hernández.
Goal: 1-0. Min. 15: Bacca.
Referee: Estrada Fernández. Booked: Alberto Moreno, Albiol and Pau for Villarreal; Sedlar, Fran Gámez, Febas and Raillo for Mallorca.
Information: Match corresponding to LaLiga matchday 29 played at the Estadio de la Cerámica. A minute of silence was held in memory of those that passed away in the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as for Alfonso Roig Alfonso, brother of the Villarreal CF president.
