Villarreal welcomed relegation candidates Getafe to El Madrigal and duly saw off their opponents with a 2-0 victory.
Goals from Denis Suarez and Cedric Bakambu were enough for the Yellow Submarine as they look to solidify their hold on fourth place in the league.
Suarez opened the scoring on the quarter of an hour mark. The Spanish youth international benefited from some smart build up play from Tomas Pina and Adrian Lopez, before letting the ball run across him and then firing passed Vicente Guaita.
The away team had their chances but their best came from a surprising outlet, the boot of opposing captain Bruno Soriano. A bursting run down the right saw Pablo Sarabia put the ball into the box in front of the on rushing Bruno, who stuck a foot out and brought a smart reaction save from his own goalkeeper.
Deep into the second-half Villarreal would double their lead. A corner from the returning Jonathon Dos Santos was flicked on by Mario Gaspar to the far post, where Bakambu was waiting to turn it in with his hip.
The home side could have had another in the remaining minutes through Dos Santos but it was not to be, although Marcelino’s men will be satisfied with another three points on the run to Champions League qualification.
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Formations
The coach made four changes from the midweek Europa League clash with Sparta Prague, in the form of Bakambu, Roberto Soldado, Manu Trigueros and Jaume Costa all seeing the bench. In their places came Adrian Lopez, Leo Baptistao, Tomas Pina and Antonio Rukavina, respectively. There was also a welcome return to the squad for Dos Santos after two months out.
Villarreal XI (4-4-2): Asenjo (GK); Rukavina, Ruiz, Bailly, Mario; Castillejo, Bruno, Pina, Suarez; Baptistao, Adrian
Fran Escriba made five changes to the side that lost at Rayo last time out in an attempt to find more attacking rhythm. A slight formational shift meant Getafe started with two up front, Henok Goitom and Emiliano Buendia, and attacking talents on the wing Sarabia and Pedro Leon.
Getafe XI (4-4-2): Guatia (GK); Pereira, Cala, Rodriguez, Suarez; Leon, Lacen, Medran, Sarabia; Goitom, Buendia
Another masterclass from Suarez
Villarreal’s player of the season stood up again, putting on another display full of hunger, movement and incisive passing.
At this point in the campaign it comes as no surprise to see Suarez picking up the plaudits again, but it was yet another showing of supreme talent. The way in which he scored his side’s first goal displayed calmness and composure, letting the ball run in front of him while under pressure, before rocketing it home.
Spending most of his time on the right side of midfield, to accommodate the yet again under-performing Castillejo, Suarez displayed his passing range and his attacking intent in unfamiliar surroundings.
Villarreal’s No.18 completed 77% of his passes, delivered six crosses, and recorded five take-ons.
More so than what his individual stats can attribute though, is the way in which this side runs though Suarez. He has been, and was again, influential in everything they did going forward and his intelligence is key to the team’s success.
Bakambu shows Baptistao’s inefficiencies
Bakambu may have only been on the field for 15 minutes but his spell on the turf showed everything that was missing from Baptistao’s 90 minutes.
The Congolese forward is all about power and pace, both things that have been lacking from the Brazilian’s game all season.
When Bakambu made his entrance in place of Adrian Lopez, who had had a solid, if unspectacular 75 minutes, he made an almost immediate impact as he began to bully the Getafe back line in a way neither striker could throughout the match.
Baptistao has been in and out of the side thanks to injury and poor form, but it took Bakambu only eight minutes to get on the scoresheet and again show why he is the first-choice No.9 at the club.
Baptistao had only one shot over the course of the match and looked constantly out of position when Villarreal were breaking forward. Displays like this will not hold him in high steed when Marcelino selects his XI for bigger matches.
Sarabia Shows Up Rukavina
It is not often this season that Villarreal’s back line has been exposed by one player as it was today. Neymar did it to Mario the first time Barcelona played the Yellow Submarine this season and, while not to quite the same extent as the mercurial Brazilian, Sarabia did it to Rukavina today.
The Getafe winger was constantly getting in behind the Serbian, who did not look as secure in his less favoured left-back position.
His usual displays on the right side of a back four have been solid, but played on the opposite side today he looked a liability. Had Sarabia had more help from his attacking team mates, the visitors could have well gotten something from this match.
One of only few players that looked to be up for this relegation fight Sarabia took it to Rukavina, creating four chances, delivering nine crosses, and executing four take ons.
Conclusion
The same conclusion could be taken from every Villarreal win from now until Champions League qualification is secure, another match, another three points closer to the end of the season.
While they were not at their best, the continued good form of Suarez carried the Yellow Submarine over the line as they remain eight points ahead of fifth placed Celta Vigo.
The only good take away for Getafe is that all teams around them also lost this weekend. They sit only two points off safety but look to be one of the most likely teams to go down. They finish round 32 with the worst goal difference in the league and if they continue to be so toothless in attack will likely be waving goodbye to La Primera.
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