The Submarine fall at the Estadio de la Cerámica in a match full of bad news (1-3)
Villarreal fell to Athletic Club (1-3) in a match full of bad news for the home side tonight. Pablo Fornals and Jaume Costa had to abandon the field of play due to injury, while Álvaro González was sent off for a second yellow card offence in the final minutes of the league clash. In addition, Víctor Ruiz was ruled out of the squad at the last minute due to falling ill with gastroenteritis. Reserve team centre back, Pau Torres, took his place on the team sheet and played all of the second half.
It was a nightmare of a start for the Yellows. The Basque side took an early lead with just 4 minutes on the clock. A cross in from the right wing was sent into the back of the net bu Córdoba, who connected well with a left-footed strike across goal (0-1). Then just three minutes later, another blow. Pablo Fornals had to leave the pitch after briefly fainting. The midfielder will spend the night in the Rey Don Jaime Hospital. Roberto Soriano took his place at the top of the midfield diamond.
The Submarine were not comfortable. They struggled to create any danger for Kepa Arrizabalaga, but did not stop trying. Athletic took advantage of Williams’ speed and it was the number 11 who pulled back a good ball from the byline to Raúl García, whose first time strike was met with a fantastic save by Asenjo.
The second half started much like the first- with an Athletic goal. Williams jumped on a loose ball in the box after another good save by Asenjo, but the Yellow goalkeeper could not stop the rebound that Williams fired into the back of an open net (0-2).
Hope came in the form of a Carlos Bacca goal on the hour mark. The Colombian made the goal himself, with the courage stride forward and the skill to curl the ball around Arrizabalaga with the outside of his boot (1-2). There was time.
It was Athletic Club who had the final say though. Iker Muniain buried the ball in the back of Asenjo’s net from a corner that came in from the right wing (1-3).
Villarreal’s next match in LaLiga will be at the Sánchez-Pizjuán stadium against Sevilla (Saturday, 1pm CEST).
Lineups:
Villarreal CF: Asenjo; Rukavina, Bonera (Pau, m. 46), Álvaro, Jaume Costa; Javi Fuego, Rodrigo, Trigueros (Cheryshev, m. 60), Fornals (Soriano, m. 8); Bacca and Enes Ünal.
Athletic Club: Arrizabalaga; De Marcos, Núñez, Íñigo Martínez, Balenziaga (Lekue, m. 62); Susaeta (Muniain, m. 75), San José, Iturraspe, Córdoba (Mikel Rico, m. 90); Raúl García and Williams.
Goals: 0-1. Min. 4: Córdoba. 0-2. Min. 50: Williams. 1-2. Min. 66: Bacca. 1-3. Min. 87: Muniain.
Referee: Iglesias Villanueva. Cautioned: Bacca and Bonera for Villarreal; Íñigo Martínez, Núñez, Iturraspe, Arrizabalaga and De Marcos for Athletic Club. Sent off: Álvaro for Villarreal (m. 89).
Match Information: Match corresponding to Matchday 31 in LaLiga played at the Estadio de la Cerámica in front of 14,879 spectators.
