The Submarine win at the Coliseum thanks to goals from Gerard and Manu Trigueros in the first half
Villarreal had an big challenge in LaLiga after the impressive achievement midweek in Munich, where they reached the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. Unai Emery kept four players in the starting lineup from that game, with Gero Rulli, Pau Torres, Dani Parejo and Gerard Moreno stating in the team. They were facing a tough opponent in Getafe, who hadn’t lost their last ten matches at home. The Yellows did their work and came away with a victory (1-2) thanks to first-half goals from Gerard and Manu Trigueros.
Carles Aleña early on warned the Yellows about the danger Getafe had in attack, but Rulli was great when he went through one-on-one. Only two minutes later, Gerard gave the Yellows the lead. A great attacking transition by Unai Emery’s men was started with a long pass by Trigueros, which was brought down by Paco Alcácer, who gave the ball to Gerard and the Catalan striker beat David Soria.
With a quarter of an hour gone, two of the key men in the first goal created the second. This time it was Gerard who won the ball back in the final third, and played through Trigueros, for the midfielder to score and increase the Yellows’ lead at the Coliseum.
The chances continued coming and Villarreal looked dangerous each time they got into the opposition half. Trigueros and Alcácer had the clearest chances of the first half, where the Yellows dominated, but they were unable to extend the lead.
In the opening moments of the second half, the home side, who had brought on attacking players such as Borja Mayoral and Óscar at half-time, came out with more intensity, but without creating too much danger near Rulli’s goal. However, Quique Sánchez Flores’ side got one back with an Enes Ünal goal after the striker showed his poaching skills in the box.
To stop the inevitable barrage from the home team, Emery brought on Arnaut Danjuma, Gio Lo Celso, Yeremy Pino and Étienne Capoue, trying to gain muscle in the middle of the pitch with the Frenchman, and having fresh players in attack to kill the game of on a counter attack. The Dutch striker could have scored with a powerful effort from a free-kick, which was deflected wide by Soria.
The third goal didn’t come, but it was Villarreal who were unable to go away with three crucial points in their fight for European football next season.
Lineups
Getafe CF: David Soria; Cabaco (m. 46, B. Mayoral), Mitrovic, J. Cuenca; Damián (m. 84, Iglesias), Aleñá (m. 56, Óscar), M. Arambarri, Maksimovic, Olivera; Enes Ünal, Sandro (m. 77, G. Villar).
Villarreal CF: Rulli; Serge Aurier, Mandi, Pau, A. Pedraza; Parejo (m. 68, Capoue), Iborra, M. Trigueros (m. 84, Moi Gómez); Gerard (m. 61, Lo Celso), Paco Alcácer (m. 61, Danjuma), Chukwueze (m. 68, Yeremy).
Goals: 0-1. Min. 7: Gerard. 0-2. Min. 16: M. Trigueros. 1-2. Min. 62: Enes Ünal.
Referee: González Fuertes (Comité Asturiano). Amonestó a los locales Damián y M. Arambarri.
Matchday information: Match between Getafe CF and Villarreal CF, corresponding to LaLiga Matchday 32, at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez.
