Villarreal went 2-0 up but ended up losing to Sevilla on LaLiga Matchday 13
Villarreal came away with an underserved defeat to Sevilla in a match that the Yellows actually went 2-0 up in, thanks to gaols by Bakambu and Bacca, before Sevilla made their comeback. The Andalusian side scored three in the second half, in which fatigue got the better of Villarreal after Thursday’s match in Kazakhstan.
After the opening minutes of shared possession, Bakambu opened the scoring for Villarreal after some great team play. Bacca received the ball from a throw in and the Colombian forward switched the play with a fantastic long ball over to Pablo Fornals, who brought the ball down and found Bakambu with a driven ball into the box. And then Bakambu, yes that man Bakambu again, smashed the ball into the roof of the net at the back post (1-0). What a goal.
It was a back and forth match with real quality football on display from both sides. Bacca had a great chance which he hit high after a cross in to him from Bakambu. The Yellows also had to penalty appeals dismissed by the referee, who didn’t deem Vázquez’s handball nor Mercado’s push on Bacca as sufficient offences to award a penalty kick.
The Yellows continued to pile on the pressure in the second half and soon got their reward. The full stands at the Estadio de la Cerámica went crazy as Carlos Bacca made it two for the home side. Fornals set Bacca on his way and the number 9 did the rest, beating Carole to the ball and breaking free from him like there was no tomorrow, he then dribbled around Segio Rico and fired the ball into the back of the net (2-0). Complete composure from the Colombian. An amazing goal.
But the two-goal lead did not last long. Three minutes to be exact. First it was Lenglet who headed the ball in from close range from a wide free kick (2-1) and then seconds later, taking advantage of the momentum in their favour, Vázquez hit a good left-footed strike from outside the box. Barbosa did get his fingertips to it but only enough to tip it into his own top corner (2-2). Incredible.
The Andalusian side completed their comeback from the penalty spot. Alberola Rojas pointed to the spot after Víctor Ruiz brought down Mercado in the box, which was the Villarreal centre back’s second yellow card of the game and saw him leave the pitch ten minutes from the end. Sevilla converted and with it, the game slipped out of the Yellows’ hands.
Villarreal’s next match is this Thursday against SD Ponferradina in the return leg of the Round of 32 of the Copa del Rey (Estadio de la Cerámica, 7:30pm CET).
Lineups:
Villarreal CF: Barbosa; Mario Gaspar, Álvaro, Víctor Ruiz, Jaume Costa; Rodrigo (Ramiro, m. 47), Soriano (Sansone, m. 68), Trigueros (Pau, m. 83), Fornals; Bakambu and Bacca.
Sevilla FC: Sergio Rico; Mercado, Geis, Lenglet, Carole; Sarabia (Jesús Navas, m. 89), Pizarro, Banega, Franco Vázquez (Krohn Dehli, m. 66), Correa; and Muriel (Ganso, m. 91).
Goles: 1-0. Min. 18: Bakambu. 2-0. Min. 52: Bacca. 2-1. Min. 55: Lenglet. 2-2. Min. 56: Franco Vázquez. 2-3. Min. 77: Banega, penalty.
Árbitro: Alberola Rojas. Cautioned: Ramiro and Jaume Costa for Villarreal; Pizarro, Banega and Correa for Sevilla. Sent off: Víctor Ruiz (m. 77) for Villarreal.
Match Informations: Match corresponding to Matchday 13 in the LaLiga Santander played at the Estadio de la Cerámica. A minute of silence was held for the victims of gender violence and also in memory of ex-Valencia CF President, Jaume Ortí.
