The Submarine beat Leganés to get their first LaLiga win of the season thanks to a great Bacca header
Villarreal’s first three points of the 2018/19 LaLiga season came in a tough game against CD Leganés with the difference being a goal from Carlos Bacca. The Colombian forward headed into the net after an inch-perfect free-kick from Miguel Layún to give the Yellow Submarine three very important points. The home side missed a penalty through Guido Carrillo.
Javi Calleja made four changes to his starting XI. Jaume Costa was brought in at left-back, while Manu Morlanes started in the middle of the pitch and Layún and Dani Raba played as inverted wingers.
Villarreal struggled to create good goal-scoring opportunities in the first half, with the intense Leganés pression suffocating the away side’s creativity. Layún had the Yellows’ best opportunity with a shot from the edge of the area after a pass from Karl Toko Ekambi, but the ball ended up in the gloves of Iván Cuéllar.
Leganés pushed forwards, but the Submarine knew how to hold tight. A great header from Carrillo looked set to put the home team in front, but a superb stop from Sergio Asenjo kept it at 0-0 going into half-time.
The second half started with a bang. Referee Pablo González Fuertes gave Leganés a penalty after the ball hit Mario Gaspar’s arm. Carrillo’s subsequent spot-kick was hit hard, but went over the bar.
Calleja was making changes to get ahead, bringing on Pablo Fornals after the interval and Bacca in the 58th minute. The Yellow Submarine reacted to these subs, with the Colombian’s first touch ending up in the back of the net. Layún’s free-kick was sheer perfection, with Bacca heading backwards to send it into the net and give Villarreal the lead in the 64th minute. It was a golazo.
The goal calmed Villarreal down, with the Yellows playing working the ball much better as they tried to find the second goal. Fornals nearly got it after a cut back from Gerard Moreno, while Bacca also came close to his second after he was found by Fornals in the area. Villarreal peppered Cuéllar’s goal with shots, with Layún coming closest, hitting the woodwork with a beautiful free-kick. It was centimetres from going in.
In the last few minutes, the tension ramped up a notch, but Villarreal held strong and headed back to Vila-real with three important points. The next match will be against Rangers FC in the Estadio de la Cerámica (6.55pm CEST) in Matchday 1 of the UEFA Europa League group stage.
Lineups:
CD Leganés: Cuéllar; Nyom (Juanfran, m. 84), Bustinza, Siovas, Jonathan Silva; Eraso (Santos, m. 61), Rubén Pérez, Gumbau; El Zhar, Carrillo, Rolan (Óscar, m. 72).
Villarreal CF: S. Asenjo; Mario Gaspar, Álvaro, Víctor Ruiz, J. Costa; M. Layún, Morlanes (Iturra, m. 87), M. Trigueros, Raba (P. Fornals, m. 46); Toko Ekambi (Bacca, m. 58), Gerard.
Goal: 0-1. Min. 64: Bacca.
Referee: González Fuertes. Booked: Jonathan Silva, Nyom, Rubén Pérez, Bustinza (CD Leganés). Jaume Costa, Mario Gaspar, Víctor Ruiz (Villarreal).
Match information: Matchday 4 of LaLiga at Butarque in front of 10,432 spectators.
