A brace from Cedric Bakambu secured Villarreal a first home win of 2016 against a valiant Sporting Gijon.
The home side never looked in doubt and with the front two of Bakambu and Roberto Soldado linking up so mercilessly, it was always going to be an uphill battle for the Rojiblancos.
The first-half began with both teams feeling their way into the match, as neither came out of the blocks at full pace.
Controversy would break out in the 21st minute after a long throw-in from the away side. Luis Hernandez got good distance on his throw, which sailed into the Villarreal six-yard box and over the head of onrushing goalkeeper Alphonse Areola. The ball found its way into the net, but referee Jesus Gil blew for a foul on the home side’s custodian.
Just five minutes later, the home side took the lead. A misplaced pass out of defence from Hernandez found the feet of Bruno, who smartly played through Soldado t0 setup Bakambu for a tap-in.
Villarreal settled into their lead for the remainder of the first-half and much of the second. The home side rarely looked in danger and put the result beyond doubt when Soldado and Bakambu combined again for the Yellow Submarine’s second goal.
A switch of play from the Spaniard found the feet of the Congolese forward, who turned on the style with a myriad of stepovers before bending the ball around Pichu Cuellar and into the Sporting net.
Following Bakambu’s second goal in the 51st minute the match fell in to a pretty stable rhythm, with Sporting trying hard to breakdown the home side but to no avail, Areola recording another clean sheet and Villarreal another three points.
The understanding between Bakambu and Soldado
When the preseason began for Villarreal, it was Gerard Moreno and Leo Baptistao who appeared to be the first-choice forward pairing. The young Spaniard and the on-loan Brazilian looked to be creating a partnership that could take the Yellow Submarine high in the table.
Yet it would not be too long before Moreno was sold to Espanyol and Baptistao succumbed to injury. In their place stood an unknown Congolese forward signed from the Turkish League and a man who had just endured a horror spell at White Heart Lane.
Fast forward six months and now Bakambu and Soldado have developed an understanding that have made them one of the most potent strike forces outside of Madrid or Barcelona. On show against Sporting, the former Spanish international acted as provider for the current DR Congo star, Soldado’s composure meaning that Bakambu had little to do for his first other than to tap the ball into the net, but on his second his skill was on show.
Spotting his partner’s movement on the other side of the field, Soldado found Bakambu with a raking pass and still with plenty to do, the 24-year-old bamboozled the Sporting defence before sublimely slotting home.
Much was made about Villarreal’s injury crisis to their forwards, but in the time that Baptistao and Adrian have spent on the treatment table, Soldado and Bakambu have conjured up a partnership that could very well take the Yellow Submarine to the Champions League.
https://youtu.be/FMLTcrijCjE
Halilovic a big fish in a small pond
19-year-old Alen Halilovic, on loan from Barcelona at Sporting, ran the show for the away side.
Everything useful going forward went through the diminutive Croatian, as he continues to evolve into a player that would npt look out of place playing regularly at the Nou Camp.
Despite putting his best chance of the match wide, his incisive running was constantly giving the Villarreal defence headaches and Victor Ruiz especially will be happy to see the back of him.
Halilovic has a real knack of finding space and throughout the match offered the out ball for his teammates. When on the ball his composure shone through and with a better side around him he could have had at least two assists.
If the youngster can continue in this vein of form Luis Alberto will welcome him back to Barcelona with open arms.
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