Villarreal asserted its profession, and the quality of its players, to itake on a bully Real Valladolid that deserved a little morebut what had no luck in finding the visiting goal and he paid dearly for his lack of success against a powerful rival who put an end to his curse in the first league days.
As the blanquivioleta coach, José Rojo “Pacheta”, advanced, his team jumped onto the pitch of the José Zorrilla stadium with courage and looking for verticality from the first minutealthough prudence was also seen when knowing which rival was in front.
Already in minute one, Sergio León finished the portería after the pass of Roque Mesa, although the referee signaled offside. It was a warning that a powerful team like Unai Emery’s was going to fight for access to the Champions League.
In fact, it was increasingly difficult for the local team to move from the middle of the fieldalthough Valladolid’s defense was consistent against the attacks of the yellow submarine, which began to reach the blanquivioleta area with more danger.
Villarreal played with more comfort, since he controlled the ball, which prevented the Valladolid players from lowering their guard, but there was no creative play, neither on one side nor the other, nor rhythm. In fact, it was from a corner kick that Emery’s men were able to open the scoring, but Gerard Moreno’s shot went wide.
That option boosted morale for Villarreal, who tried again on the next play through Jeremy Pino, although his shot was parried by Sergio Asenjo. But the locals did not lower their arms and Roque Mesa tried to surprise Rulli with a shot from long range, which the visiting goalkeeper cleared.
Two minutes after the restart, the Senegalese Nicolas Jackson, one of the products of the ‘yellow submarine’ quarry, knew how to make the most of Joaquín’s monumental mistake, who did not clear the ball inside the local area, without realizing that the African was by his side, so this he was able to shoot at will and upload the first goal to the electronic.
“Pacheta” moved the bench, looking for a shock, and found it in Iván Sánchez, who did not think about it when shooting from outside the area, making Rulli intervene to prevent the local goal and whose rejection ran into the player again, but that new attempt was also cleared by the Argentine goalkeeper.
The ‘yellow submarine’ also changed some pieces, but the blanquivioleta team had gained more confidence and turned in search of a draw. First, with a shot from Kike and, later, with a shot after a corner from Gassama, which gave Rulli the leading role, who stopped both shots.
But Valladolid’s clearest chance came in the 69th minuteafter a great cross from Iván Sánchez that, inexplicably, Gassama, at an empty goal, finished off wide, to the surprise of locals and strangers.
The one who did not fail was Álex Baena, who took advantage of the Nigerian Samu Chukwueze’s pass to shoot low, close to the goalpost, which annulled any option for Sergio Asenjo to act. The Villarreal youth squad was not satisfied, added a third goalwith a powerful shot from the edge of the area that went to the opposing squad, before which the local goalkeeper could not do anything, to establish the final 0-3.
Datasheet:
0 – Valladolid: Sergio Asenjo; Luis Pérez, Joaquín, El Yamiq, Escudero (Olaza, m.80); Roque Mesa (Kike, m.56), Monchu, Aguado; Silver (Iván Sánchez, m.56), Sergio León (Gassama, m.55) and Toni Villa (Óscar Plano, m.62).
3 – Villarreal: Rulli; Foyth (Mandy, m.88), Albiol, Pau Torres, Pedraza; Yeremy Pino (Alex Baena, m.63), Capoue, Couple, Coquelin (Chukwueze, m.63); Gerard (Morals, m.72) and Jackson.
Goals: 0-1, m.49: Jackson. 0-2, m.81: Alex Baena. 0-3, m.90: Alex Baena.
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Referee: Mario Melero López (Andalusian Committee). He showed a yellow card to Roque Mesa (m.51), from Real Valladolid.
Incidences: Match corresponding to the first day of LaLiga Santander, played at the José Zorrilla stadium before 17,543 spectators. Before the match began, the all-time record for subscribers of the blanquivioleta club was confirmed, with more than 2,250.