The Submarine comfortably beat UD Poblense to move into the second round of the knockout tournament

Villarreal are through to the second round of the Copa del Rey. The Submarine comfortably beat UD Poblense 1-6 with goals from Ramon Terrats, Ayoze (3), Pau Cabanes and Pape Gueye in the match played on Tuesday night at the Nou Camp de Sa Pobla.

UD Poblense played a cup match 47 years later after their last match against UD Salamanca. A hard-earned achievement after eliminating La Nucía in the Copa Federación and earning their ticket to the first knockout round of the Tknockout tournament. Thousands of people packed the stands of the Municipal de Sa Pobla to welcome and try to achieve the machada against a European champion.

Marcelino opted for a starting line-up with some big names. The player from Gijón, who included Pau Cabanes, Pau Navarro and Valou as the only youth players in the squad for the cup match, lined up the attacker from Burriana and the defender from La Vilavella to face the team from the Balearic Islands. They were the main new additions to a line-up that also included Luiz Júnior, who made his official debut for the Submarine, and players who had played less regularly to date, such as Willy Kambwala and Juan Bernat, among others.

Villarreal’s first approach came before the tenth minute of the match. Yeremy Pino broke into the box and, close to the byline, played a killer pass to Ramon Terrats who failed to make contact with the ball. However, in the next move, identical to the previous one in terms of the build-up and the players involved, saw Villarreal’s first goal come from Ramon Terrats, who finished with a delightful finish after a good assist from Yeremy Pino. The Catalan midfielder’s goal put the Submarine ahead in the tenth minute.

Near the half-hour mark, in the 27th minute, a pass behind the back of the UD Poblense defence left Ramon Terrats in a one-on-one situation with Sabate and the No.20 gave the ball to Ayoze Pérez, giving him the goal that increased Villarreal’s lead on the scoreboard.

The Canary Islander would also score the third, which came eight minutes later. Yeremy, close to the edge of the area, slipped the ball to Ayoze, who beat his defender with a superb flick before firing the ball past Carceller.

Marcelino’s side were an attacking machine and were constantly threatening the UD Poblense defence, who, cheered on by their supporters, were trying to resist the yellows’ onslaught. However, in the 38th minute another piece of bad news came in the form of a goal for the Balearic side, as Pau Cabanes, assisted by Ayoze and after a great manoeuvre inside the area, made it 0-4 with a left-footed shot that hit the post.

Before the break, Ayoze completed his hat-trick with a great finish after Terrats left him alone in front of the goalkeeper.

Villarreal, at the end of the first half, were on track to win the tie with a 0-5 scoreline.

At the start of the second half, Marcelino gave his first team debut to Valou, a young centre-back from Côte d’Ivoire who has been playing for Villarreal B this season.

UD Poblense had their chances during the first quarter of an hour of the second half, but they came up against an excellent Luiz Júnior, who made his first great interventions as Villarreal goalkeeper.

Then, in the 58th minute, Pape Gueye added to the score to make it 0-6.

The joy for the people of Sa Pobla came in the boots of Aitor Pons. The veteran UD Poblense striker surprised Luiz Júnior with a long-range shot that made it 1-6, the goal of honour that the team and the crowd in the Municipal de Sa Pobla celebrated in style.

Finally, a serious Villarreal won at UD Poblense and advanced to the Copa del Rey. The Submarine will play the second round on 4th December against an opponent yet to be determined.