Villarreal beat Osasuna and get back to winning ways thanks to a Gerard Moreno brace and another by Fer Niño
Villarreal beat Osasuna (1-3) in what was a calm game for the Yellows, who were superior and got back on track in LaLiga with a win. An expert performance by Gerard Moreno, who netted a brace making him the league’s current top scorer, and another goal by Fer Niño were more than enough for the Submarine to sentence the tie at El Sadar.
The Submarine set up with a starting eleven featuring three big changes. Unai Emery stuck with Fer Niño up top, having an attack plagued by injuries. Gerard played just behind him on the right in a front three with youngster Yeremy on the left. To fill in for Iborra and Coquelin, the Yellows boss opted for Juan Foyth at holding centre mid.
From the first whistle, Villarreal showed their quality and took the reigns at El Sadar. The Yellows knocked the ball around nicely in the opposition’s half. In the 6th minute, after fantastic team build-up play, Trigueros played an excellent through ball to Gerard, who chipped it over the Osasuna keeper first time with a quality touch.
If the match had started well for the Yellows, the script was about to get even better. In the 19th minute, Osasuna went down to ten men after Aridane got sent off for pulling down Fer Niño who would have gone through on goal.
With a numerical advantage and the upper hand in the game, Villarreal went in search of a second. Just before the half-an-hour mark, Yeremy picked up the ball and after a great run played a lovely ball into space for Fer Niño to fire home.
With the scoreboard showing 0-2 and Emery’s side playing well, the Submarine kept possession of the ball comfortably until the break.
At the start of the second half, Emery changed things up by bringing on Moi Gómez and Jaume Costa for Foyth and Estupiñán, respectively.
Villarreal almost made it three in the 54th minute. Moi Gómez’s close-range effort went just wide of the post from a great assist by Yeremi Pino. Five minutes later, Mario Gaspar’s shot struck the post after Gerard Moreno set him up as he was running into the box.
The Yellows controlled the game and didn’t give Osasuna any options. In the 69th minute, in an action against the run of play, Yeremy gave away a penalty by fouling Unai García in the area and Roberto Torres converted from the spot. The goal gave life to the home side who hadn’t had any chances the whole game.
In the final minutes, Osasuna pushed forward in search of the equaliser. In their best moment of the match, Gerard Moreno, LaLiga’s top scorer, dulled their aspirations by netting a third for Villarreal. The Yellows No.7 hit the back of the net with his right foot from a Rubén Peña assist.
Right at the end, Álex Millán came on to make his debut in LaLiga. The youngster also played for the first team in the week against SD Leioa in the first round of the Copa del Rey.
Lineups:
CA Osasuna: Rubén; Nacho Vidal (Roncaglia, m. 88), Aridane, David García, Juan Cruz (Unai García, m. 23); R. Torres, Oier (Javi Martínez, m. 88), Moncayola (Kike Barja, m. 73), Rubén García; Calleri (Darko, m. 45) and Budimir.
Villarreal CF: S. Asenjo; Mario Gaspar, R. Albiol, Pau, Estupiñán (J. Costa, m. 45); Foyth (Moi Gómez, m. 45), Trigueros, Parejo; Gerard (Millán, m. 88), F. Niño (R. Peña, m. 83) and Yeremy (Chukwueze, m. 72).
Goals: 0-1. Min. 6: Gerard. 0-2. Min. 28: Fer Niño. 1-2. Min. 70: R. Torres. 1-3. Min. 85: Gerard.
Referee: Figueroa Vázquez (Comité andaluz): Booked: Oier and Unai García for Osasuna, Yeremy and Gerard for Villarreal. Sent off: Aridane for Osasuna.
Information: Match between CA Osasuna and Villarreal CF corresponding to Matchday 14 of LaLiga 2020/21 played at El Sadar Stadium.
