The Yellows put in a good match and go close to the win against Atlético de Madrid
Villarreal come away with a point against the current LaLiga champions (2-2). The Yellows were the better team and deserved more against Atlético de Madrid, who suffered at times due to an impressive performance from the Submarine, in an open game at the Estadio de la Cerámica.
The match didn’t start the best way possible for Villarreal. Ten minutes into the game, the Yellows were behind after a goal from more than 50 metres by Ángel Correa, who capitalised on a loose ball by Emery’s men to put Atlético de Madrid ahead at the Estadio de la Cerámica.
The Yellows looked for the equaliser, and five minutes after the opener, Alberto Moreno hit the post. The rebound fell to Pervis Estupiñán, whose shot went just wide.
At half-time, Alberola Rojas gave a penalty for a clear handball by Thomas Lemar in the box. Gerard Moreno stepped up but was denied by Jan Oblak. The rebound was put into the back of the net by Dani Parejo, but the goal didn’t count because of a supposed handball by the midfielder before it went in. Nothing was coming off for the Submarine, but they continued looking for the equaliser.
Emery’s side continued pushing forward and they were rewarded just before the half-hour mark. Parejo put the ball into the box and Pau Torres got on the end of a rebound, making the scoreboard look fairer.
At 1-1, Villarreal pushed Atlético de Madrid back, with the away side suffering at the hands of Emery’s men. The Submarine, cheered on by the fans, were a cyclone of pressure at the Estadio de la Cerámica.
The Submarine started the second half convincingly as they tried to turn the score around. A quarter of an hour was all Emery’s side needed to do so. Alberto Moreno made it 2-1, beating Oblak after a fantastic Gerard assist. The No.18 got away from his marker well and finished well past the Slovenian goalkeeper.
Atlético de Madrid were not going to give up easily. In their first dangerous piece of play in the seocnd half, they drew level. After getting on the end of a rebound off Gero Rulli, Geoffrey Kondogbia beat the Argentine goalkeeper with a powerful effort from the edge of the box.
After making it 2-2, Atlético de Madrid were at their best, looking for a winner. The Yellows didn’t give up as they were looking for the three points. In added time, Kondogbia was sent off for a second yellow after a challenge on Yeremy Pino. The match ended with Villarreal pushing Atleti back, but it ended all even at the Estadio de la Cerámica.
Lineups:
Villarreal CF: Rulli; Foyth, R. Albiol, Pau, Estupiñán (m. 86, N. Jackson); Capoue (m 80, Iborra), Parejo, Alberto M. (m. 73, Yeremy), M. Trigueros (m. 73, A. Pedraza), Moi Gómez; Gerard.
Atlético de Madrid: Oblak; M. Llorente, Felipe, M. Hermoso, Renan Lodi (m. 62, Vrsaljko); Carrasco, R. De Paul (m. 62, Koke), Kondogbia, Lemar; Cunha (m. 62, Joao Félix), Correa.
Goles: 0-1. Min 11: Correa. 1-1. Min 29: Pau. 2-1. Min 58: Alberto M. 2-2. Min 67: Kondogbia.
Referee: Alberola Rojas. Sent off: Kondogbia (91′).
Matchday information: Match between Villarreal CF and Atlético de Madrid, corresponding to Matchday 20 of the LaLiga Santander season, at the Estadio de la Cerámica, with an attendance of 14,132.
