The Yellow Submarine take down Levante with goals by Gerard and Moi Gómez in a thrilling derby
A hugely important win. Villarreal beat Levante at the Estadio de la Cerámica thanks to goals by Gerard Moreno and Moi Gómez. Two left-footed finishes are worth three golden points. This win sees the Submarine end the day in European contention as they move up to sixth place.
Javi Calleja went for the same starting eleven that drew against Real Valladolid. With Rubén Peña at left back and a midfield packed with talent. Gerard Moreno, on the right of the front three, scored the opener in the eighth minute.
Santi Cazorla played a fantastic cross into the box, Paco Alcácer brought the ball down brilliantly and it fell to the feet of Gerard who made no mistake with a blistering left-footed strike (1-0). The game was very even. Levante pressured high to stop Villarreal playing out the back and made the Yellows have to dig deep to cause Aitor problems.
Calleja looked to the bench at the start of the second half. André-Frank Zambo Anguissa came on for Vicente Iborra, who was the only player with a yellow card.
Levante drew level in the 55th minute. Carlos Clerc crossed from the right, with his low ball reaching the back post, where Borja Mayoral was waiting to send it into the back of the net (1-1). Villarreal were not affected by the blow, scoring just five minutes later. Moi received the ball on the edge of the box, playing an unstoppable right-footed shot just inside the post (2-1). There were five minutes after the ball crossed the line and it actually being given, due to VAR, which checked to see if Moreno was millimetres offside in the build-up.
Excitement until the end. The match was intense until the final whistle, but there were no more goals on the scoreboard. Next up for Villarreal is a game against Atlético Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano (Sunday, 9pm CET).
Lineups:
Villarreal CF: Asenjo; Mario Gaspar, Albiol, Funes Mori, Peña; Cazorla (Pau, m. 90), Iborra (Anguissa, m. 46), Trigueros, Moi Gómez; Gerard, Paco Alcácer (Chukwueze, m. 75).
Levante UD: Aitor; Miramón, Ruben Vezo, Postigo, Clerc (Toño, m. 88); Rochina, Campaña, Vukcevic (Sergio León, m. 80), Bardhi; Roger, Borja Mayoral (Morales, m. 71).
Goals: 1-0. Min. 8: Gerard Moreno. 1-1. Min. 55: Borja Mayoral. 2-1. Min. 60: Moi Gómez.
Referee: Melero López. Booked: Iborra, Trigueros, Peña (Villarreal); Postigo (Levante).
Matchday information: Partido correspondiente a la jornada 24 de LaLiga disputado en el Estadio de la Cerámica ante la presencia de 17.269 espectadores. Match corresponding to LaLiga Matchday 24 at the Estadio de la Cerámica in front of an attendance of 17,269.
