MADRID, 25 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Villarreal certified this Thursday its presence in the group stage of the Conference League, the third European competition, after beating Hadjuk Split 0-2 (6-2 in favor on aggregate) thanks to the good performance of the people from Castellón on his visit to Croatian lands.
Unai Emery’s pupils did not suffer in the tie despite the good start of the locals. Former Las Palmas striker Marko Livaja was the most dangerous with several actions that Pepe Reina dismantled without further problems. A start that served to wake up a Villarreal that grew with the passing of the minutes.
The yellow team, who had the guarantee of 4-2 in the first leg, resolved -practically- the tie when Alfonso Pedraza scored with a great right foot in the 37th minute. Something that was the result of his insistence after trying first with his left foot.
The match came to halftime with 0-1 and Hadjuk tried to give one last push in the second round, but a rude mistake by his goalkeeper ended up clinching the victory for the Spaniards and the ticket to the initial phase of the Conference. This time it was thanks to a personal action by Samu Chukwueze.
The Nigerian dribbled in his shadow until he managed to gain space to set up the shot with his left foot. The rest was a gift from Lovre Kalinic. The 0-2 was definitive for a Villarreal that has started the course in an excellent way.
Leader in the League with a sweet moment, the ‘yellow submarine’ will also be in the Conference League and will become -as of this Thursday- the first Spanish team in history to play in this competition, the third most important on a continental level.