Javier Aguirre had predicted it before the game: “They will have the ball and we will wait for our opportunities.” He nailed it. Although of course, he also hinted that Sergi Darder would start and the man from Artà started this Friday’s clash sitting on the bench. He also didn’t say Mallorca would play to accept a possible tie, apparently. Coach’s gear.
Villarreal was better in the second half, they scored a legal goal, they managed to extend their lead if the local goalkeeper Rajkovic couldn’t get his save book out, while Mallorca, always defending, only tried to end for a draw that didn’t come.
The game started in sterile possession for Villarreal against a Mallorca locked in defense and looking for a saving counterattack. But neither of the two contenders moved on from there and the goalkeepers were mere spectators in the first half.
The two teams worked on the pre-arranged script. Only two deflected shots by Álex Baena (minutes 30 and 38) slightly shook the silence of the first half that did not show a single shot between the three sticks.
In the 41st minute, the worst thing in football: an injury to the left ankle (possible fracture) of the local captain, Antonio Raíllo, who had to be taken off on a stretcher and replaced by Gio González.
After the break, Aguirre brought Sergi Darder and Samu Costa onto the field, retiring Amath and Morlanes in search of feeding Muriqi the ball. For his part, Quique Setién didn’t move a bit.
In the 52nd minute, Gerard Moreno scored, but the goal was canceled due to a clear handball.
A few minutes later, it was Moreno himself who, this time, would put his team ahead by grabbing the rebound from goalkeeper Rajkovic, after a flurry in the area following a corner. And because of this, Villarreal grew into a giant. In fact, Rajkovic made up to three impressive actions to prevent a 0-2 draw against Mallorca who, in the end, tried to continue with Larin and Muriqi playing together at the top. But there is none.
Quique Setién strengthened his midfield and his defense in the search to maintain the advantage, against a Mallorca that ‘thrown’ in the first half and woke up late.
| Majorca | villarreal |
|
0 |
1 |
| 1 P. Rajkovic |
|
13 F. Jörgensen |
|
| fifteen Paul Maffeo |
|
8 John Foyth |
|
| 24 Martin Valgent |
|
2 Matteo Gabbia 67′ |
|
| twenty-one rail 46′ |
|
(3 Raul Albiol) |
|
| (twenty Mr. Gonzalez) |
|
5 Jorge Cuenca |
|
| 6 Pompadour |
|
24 A. Pedraza |
|
| 14 Dani Rodriguez 63′ |
|
10 Daniel Parejo |
|
| (17 Cyle Larin) |
|
twenty Ramon Terrats 67′ |
|
| 5 Omar Mascarell 72′ |
|
(6 AND. Capoue) |
|
| (3. 4 Javi Llabres) |
|
16 Alex Baena 78′ |
|
| Eleven James Costa |
|
(4 Santi Comesaña) |
|
| 8 Manu Morlanes 46′ |
|
7 Gerard Moreno 76′ |
|
| (10 Sergi Darder) |
|
(22 denis suarez) |
|
| 7 Vedat Muriqi |
|
Eleven A. Sørloth |
|
| 23 Amath Ndiaye 46′ |
|
9 Ben Brereton 77′ |
|
| (12 Samu Costa) |
|
(27 Ilias Akhomach) |
|
|
|
|
The objectives:(0-1) Gerard Moreno (62′)
cards:L Omar Mascarell (2′), Ben Brereton (45′), Ramon Terrats (50′), Álex Baena (51′), Martin Valjent (73′), Santi Comesaña (83′)L
Referee: Javier Alberola Rojas
Spectators: 17,775 at the Visit Mallorca Stadium
| THE BEST Gerard Moreno’s goal, fair prize for the best football in the Submarine | |
| WORST Raíllo’s injury and Mallorca’s defensive approach |
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
