The Submarine fall to Olympique Lyon and will have to make a comeback at the Estadio de la Cerámica
Villarreal CF will have to make a comeback against Olympique Lyonnais to go through to the next round of the UEFA Europa League. The Yellow Submarine fell 3-1 in the first leg of the Round of 32 in a match in which all goals were scored in the second half. Fornals’ away goal gives a glimmer of hope to the Yellows.
Javi Calleja put out a strong starting eleven, with Denis Cheryshev playing up front alongside Colombian centre forward Carlos Bacca. Villarreal slowly but surely took control of the game, hypnotizing their opponents with their possession of the ball. The Yellows knocked the ball around in search of a gap in the French side’s back line, but the home side were very well organised.
The Submarine created their first good chance of the game from a set play. A double chance in the 16th minute. Fornals put in a corner kick and Trigueros struck the ball first time out of the air with a fantastic volley, but his effort soared straight at Lopes who made a fine save. A play straight off the training ground which only narrowly missed the mark. The ball continued in play though and it fell to Trigueros again, who put a cross over to Bacca at the far post, unfortunately the Colombian’s effort to direct the ball towards goal was stopped with another feline-like save from Lopes.
Then Olympique Lyon had their turn at the other end, with an on-frame free kick taken by Fekir, but Sergio Aenjo was equal to it, pushing the ball wide with a magnificent diving save (m. 23).
Football is a game of two halves though and the second started with a bang. The first five minutes after the restart were a nightmare for Villarreal. The French side took the lead in the 46th minute through a Ndombele header, that was previously assisted by a header to find him at the back post by Mariano Díaz (1-0, m. 46). Then, just a few seconds later, Lyon made it two. Mariano set off down the left wing, skipped around his defender and forced Asenjo to make a difficult save. The rebound then fell to the feet of Fekir, who unforgivingly smashed the ball into the back of the net with his left foot from close range (2-0, m. 48).
Javi Calleja changed things up to get a reaction out of his players. And it worked. Villarreal managed to pull one back. Cheryshev played a square pass to Trigueros on the edge of the box, who cleverly let the ball run through his legs into the path of Pablo Fornals who was arriving at the far post and struck the ball with all his might at the Lyon goal. Lopes got behind the ball but the force of Fornals’ shot took it past him and it rolled over the goal line just before the Lyon defenders cleared it away (2-1, m. 62).
Villarreal went all out for the equaliser, but instead, it was the home side that got the next goal to extend their lead. Depay, who had just stepped onto the pitch, intercepted a Villarreal clearance and with a first time shot from 25 yards out the Lyon striker curled the ball around Asenjo and inside his right post (3-1, m. 82).
The match was wide open from that moment on. The Yellow Submarine went in search of a second in earnest with under ten minutes to go on the clock and they almost got it in the 87th minute. Enes Ünal headed the ball down to the penalty spot from a Carlos Bacca cross and Fornals ran on to it and let rip. However, yet another unbelievable save by Lopes kept the Yellows at bay once again. Unlucky.
The UEFA Europa League Round of 32 second leg will be played at the Estadio de la Cerámica on Thursday 22nd February at 7pm CET.
Lineups:
Olympique Lyon: Lopes; Rafael (Mendy, m. 83), Marcelo, Morel, Marçal; Ndombele, Tousart; Traoré (Cornet, m. 76), Fekir, Aouar (Depay, m. 72); and Mariano Díaz.
Villarreal CF: Asenjo; Mario Gaspar, Álvaro, Víctor Ruiz, J. Costa; S. Castillejo (Enes Ünal, m. 54), Rodrigo, M. Trigueros, P. Fornals (Raba, m. 88); Cheryshev (Soriano, m. 73) and Bacca.
Goals: 1-0. Min. 46: Ndombele. 2-0. Min. 48: Fekir. 2-1. Min. 62: P. Fornals. 3-1. Min. 82: Depay.
Referee: Viktor Kassai (HUN). Cautioned: Marçal for Lyon; Álvaro, Cheryshev and Rodrigo for Villarreal.
Match Information: Match corresponding to the first leg of the UEFA Europa League Round of 32 played at the Groupama Stadium.
