Miguel Álvarez’s side ended a calendar year affected by the pandemic well
Villarreal B have ended 2020 after having a more-than-positive year overall. It was a tough year, affected by the worldwide pandemic, but Miguel Álvarez’s side got great results and once more showed the high level of the Yellows Academy’s talents.
The B team started 2020 wth a great 2-0 win over CE Sabadell at the Mini Estadi. It was the first win of the year for the Mini Submarine, who would go seven games unbeaten and getting impressive wins, such as the 2-3 victory at the Johan Cruyff stadium against Barça B. The Mini Submarine’s great start to the year was interrupted by the pandemic, which stopped all sporting competition.
Because of the worldwide crisis, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (Real Federación Española de Fútbol) decided to stop the Segunda División B season where it was, to be able to play the play-offs. Villarreal B, who were in Group 3, were just three points off the play-off spots, finishing the season in sixth, with 46 points.
Despite the stop in competitive action due to the pandemic, the Mini Submarine’s players continued to train under Álvarez, waiting for the start of the 2020/21 season, which finally got underway in October. The B team brought in players such as Haissem Hassan, Kevin Soni, Maxi Villa, Juan Antonio Ros and De la Fuente, while other players came up from younger Yellows Academy sides, such as Carlo Adriano, Marc Vidal, Dani Tasende and many others. Despite a shaky start to the season, good results and even better results soon came.
The Mini Submarine ended 2020 in the best way possible, with an important win over Orihuela at the Mini Estadi (2-0). A reward for Villarreal B’s hard work, allowing them to end the year third, with 13 points in Segunda División B Group 3B, within the play-off spots.
Finally, the cherry on the cake has been the youngsters who have taken the step to the first team, becoming a key part of Unai Emery’s squad, such as Álex Baena, Yeremy Pino, Fer Niño and Filip Jorgensen. Players such as Carlo Adriano and Álex Millán have also had exciting first-team debuts.
