Villarreal get a great victory against Athletic with goals from Fornals, Funes Mori and Toko Ekambi
Simply spectacular. Villarreal got a brilliant victory against Athletic Club (0-3) in a match where Pablo Fornals opened the scoring with a ridiculous goal from 35 yards, Ramiro Funes Mori scored the second with his head and Karl Toko Ekambi finished the scoring with cold blood, rounding Unai Simón. The Yellow Submarine returned to show its most solid side in defence (Asenjo is currently the goalkeeper with the most clean sheets in LaLiga) and this time, Villarreal were able to get a clean sheet while the attack shone. It’s the Yellows’ first victory at the new San Mamés. The last time there was a ‘groguet’ victory in Bilbao was in 2010/11 thanks to a Marco Ruben goal.
Javi Calleja, who was in his 50th game as manager, picked the same XI that faced Valencia and drew at the Estadio de la Cerámica last Sunday. Funes Mori stayed as a midfielder and Fornals and Miguel Layún started as wingers once more. The first real chance for the Yellows fell to Carlos Bacca. The Colombian broke free down the left flank and his ball went across the face of goal, but a defender was able to clear it at the last minute (min. 25). The move ended in a corner, which led to another chance for the Yellow Submarine, with Funes Mori heading off target.
Villarreal grew into the game. They were solid in defence and confident in attack. The Yellows almost got in front in the 39th minute. Funes Mori switched the ball to the right, Gerard Moreno brought the ball down sublimely, playing in Fornals, who made Simón make a great save to keep the tie level. It was a great move.
The second half became a quick exchange of blows. The two teams were looking to break the deadlock with perseverance. Calleja brought on Toko Ekambi and Santi Cazorla to try and get ahead.
In the 65th minute, time stood still. A moment of magic. Fornals scored a golazo from nearly the halfway line. The Yellows No.8 connected with a magic half volley and his fantastic effort left Simón stranded. Marvellous (0-1).
Villarreal were let loose. Gerard was close to making it 2-0 in the 71st minute, after escaping his marker and arriving at the edge of the area, cutting inside and forcing Simón into another save. Toko Ekambi dragged the defenders away from the goal to let Gerard in on goal.
Funes Mori killed the game off, scoring his first goal for the Yellows with a header after a magical corner by Cazorla (0-2, min. 80).
With Athletic Club pushing forward to salvage something from the game, Villarreal had space to get another goal, and full of confidence, they pushed forward, with Toko Ekambi losing his man, rounding Simón in cold blood and scoring in front of an empty net (min. 87).
The next Villarreal match will be this Sunday against Real Valladolid (4:15pm, Estadio de la Cerámica).
Lineups:
Athletic Club: Unai Simón; De Marcos (Guruceta, m. 81), Núñez, Iñigo Martínez, Yuri; Beñat, Iturraspe (Unai López, m. 66), Raúl García (Córdoba, m. 70); Capa, Muniain, Williams.
Villarreal CF: Asenjo; Mario Gaspar, Álvaro, Víctor Ruiz, Jaume Costa; Fornals, Trigueros, Funes Mori, Layún (Cazorla, m. 63); Gerard (Pedraza, m. 87), Bacca (Toko Ekambi, m. 60).
Goals: 0-1. Min. 65: Fornals. 0-2. Min. 80: Funes Mori. 0-3. Min. 87: Toko Ekambi.
Referee: Del Cerro Grande. Booked: De Marcos (Athletic Club), Víctor Ruiz (Villarreal).
Match information: Matchday 6 of LaLiga at San Mamés in front of an attendance of 39,632.
