Villarreal came from behind at home to Espanyol to record a 3-1 victory on matchday two of the La Liga season.
An early goal from Felipe Caicedo for the visitors set the tone of the first half as the home side offered little in the form of goalmouth action. Espanyol conceded the majority of possession to the Yellow Submarine and still looked the most likely to score again.
The second half started similarly before a double substitution saw the arrivals of Cedric Bakambu and Samuel Garcia in place of Leo Baptistao and Samu Castillejo. Not two minutes later, Roberto Soldado equalised for the home side after a ball from Samuel.
It was then Bakambu’s time to step up as Villarreal’s newest forward scored two goals. His first saw his electric turn of pace as he burst through the Espanyol back line to beat everyone to a ball and made no mistake from 10 yards. His second came into injury time as Espanyol were caught napping and from a Soldado cross, Bakambu was given a simple tap-in.
Roberto Soldado is back
Two games back in La Liga have returned two goals, and two man of the match performances, for the former Spanish international. Soldado was involved heavily in everything good Villarreal did going forward. His energy and effort breathed life into a team that struggled in the first half and it was his goal that got his team back into the match. The Spurs flop took down a ball chipped up to him from Samuel Garcia, and struck in the bottom corner whilst holding off a defender. He also provided an assist for Bakambu’s second of the night.
#Villarreal 2-1 #Espanyol | Full-Time Could @R9Soldado‘s move to Spain get his career on track? Courtesy: SkySports pic.twitter.com/NDMeP2dCso
— fanatix (@therealfanatix) August 28, 2015
Espanyol’s indiscretions will cause them problems
Espanyol received six yellow cards during the game and were lucky to finish with the full complement of players on the pitch. Their defence was rugged and did not give the Villarreal players time on the ball but they were too forceful in the tackle and the referee punished them as such. This is a team that received a league high 117 yellow cards last season and it comes as no surprise to see that trend continue.
Leo Baptistao frustrates again
Baptistao cut a forlorn figure up front for Villarreal, lasting 65 minutes until being replaced by Bakambu. It was the second game in a row that Baptistao has been subbed off, and it could have come a lot sooner. The man on loan from Atletico Madrid had three shots, all off target, and attempted two dribbles, both times losing the ball. He never seemed comfortable against the Espanyol back line who marshalled him well. It was telling that Soldado got his goal just minutes after Baptistao left the pitch, and the man who replaced him scored twice. It would come as a surprise to see Baptistao line up from the beginning when Villarreal take on Granada in their next match.
Gerard Moreno fails on return
Having left only two weeks ago, Gerard Moreno returned to El Madrigal hoping to be a force for his new side. Granted his first start of the season he began the game well, providing an inch perfect through ball for Caicedo to latch onto to score. From that point onward Moreno failed to make an impact on the game. His runs gave no return as he was dispossessed five times by his former teammates. He managed one shot on goal but did not trouble Alphonse Areola in between the posts. Returning to a former club is never an easy task but Moreno will be hoping for more when Villarreal visit his new home at the Estadi Cornella-El Prat.
What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.
