The Villarreal, brand new classified for the round of 32 of the Europa League, could not with the defensive framework of the newly promoted Elche, which added its fourth consecutive draw in LaLiga. Valuable draw for the people of Elche in La Cerámica, where those from Unai emery They could not find solutions in attack to achieve a victory that would have reinforced them in the Champions League positions.
This duel of the Valencian Community was matched in a first half in which the goalkeepers Sergio Asenjo Y Edgar badia they became spectators of luxury. Suffice it to say that the right back Pervis Estupiñán, with a lateral free kick, was the one that created the most danger at Villarreal.
The inability to generate chances for the ‘groguet’ team was manifest before a Elche that defended itself perfectly, although the people of Elche did not appear at the goal defended by Sergio Asenjo.
In the visiting ranks, midfielders Josan and Fidel combined well, while Villarreal looked powerless to overcome the lock set by the Elche coach, Jorge Almirón.
After the break, the ‘Submarine’ came out ready to torpedo the Elche wall and wanted to get one more gear. Unai Emery rearranged his attack with the aim of trying to intimidate the insurmountable green franj defense. The Basque coach gave entry to the Japanese Take kubo in search of imbalance and also to Paco Alcacer to gain presence in the area.
With the presence of both attackers, the Elche began to feel a bit uncomfortable on the La Cerámica pitch, but Villarreal did not end up putting in serious trouble or hurting a very organized Elche who showed a great spirit of solidarity when defending.
Badía thwarts a great occasion for Kubo
In minute 61, Kubo claimed a penalty, but the referee of the contest, the Aragonese Jaime Latre, nor the VAR indicated anything. Shortly after, Villarreal came close to taking the lead with a shot from Gerard Moreno that skimmed the post. Villarreal had a hard time catching Elche off guard, but Kubo also had the 1-0 in his boots, but he found a providential hand of Edgar Badía.
In the final stretch, things got more complicated for Emery's team with the Alcacer muscle injury, who was replaced by Yeremy Pino. Villarreal could not with Elche, although in the 88th minute he could take the three points with a ball that the central defender Pau Torres 'Combed' and what ended crashing into the crossbar to the despair of the locals, who lost the opportunity to approach the second place that holds the Real society.
| 1 S. Asenjo | 13 Edgar Badía | ||
| 2 Mario Gaspar | 19 A. Barragan | ||
| 3 R. Albiol | 5 Gonzalo verdu | ||
| 4 Pau | 2 D. González | ||
| fifteen P. Estupiñán | 24 Jose Ma | ||
| 10 V. Iborra 78 ' | 17 Josan 87 ' | ||
| (30 Yéremi Pino) | (twenty J. Lucumí) | ||
| 14 M. Trigueros 82 ' | 14 R. Guti | ||
| (3. 4 Fer Child) | 4 I. Marcone | ||
| 5 D. Parejo | 16 Fidel | ||
| eleven S. Chukwueze 46 ' | 10 Pere Milla | ||
| (16 T. Kubo) | eleven Tete Morente 87 ' | ||
| 7 Gerard Moreno | (6 Nuke mfulu) | ||
| 32 Alex Baena 46 ' | |||
| (17 P. Alcácer) | |||
Goals: There was no
Cards:L Pere Milla (23 '), D. Parejo (64'), Fidel (67 '), R. Albiol (75'), F. Coquelin (81 ')L
Referee: Jaime Latre (Aragonese Committee)
Spectators: Behind closed doors at the Estadio de la Cerámica
| THE BEST The defensive discipline and the solidarity of all Elche | |
| WORST The lack of clarity attacking Villarreal |
(+) See the summary of the match