Villarreal have played seven preseason matches thus far and the Yellow Submarine have given fans plenty of reason to be hopeful for the upcoming La Liga season.
Although results in preseason have little bearing on how a club will perform come regular season, Villarreal can go into 2015-16 with confidence. Of their seven fixtures they have won five and drawn two.
The Yellow Submarine began their preseason with matches against lower Spanish league opposition CF Reus and Gimnastic da Tarragona. These matches served little other purpose than to get the players into a game situation and start the preseason on the right foot.
Villarreal triumphed over Reus 1-0 thanks to a goal from new loan signing Leo Baptistao. The Brazilian, on loan from Atletico Madrid, latched on to a perfect through ball from Captain Bruno before calmly placing the ball into the net, via the Reus goalkeeper’s legs.
Gimnastic would prove a slightly tougher test for Villarreal and would take the lead from the penalty spot. A mazy run from forward Rayco would see him brought down in the box by Bojan Jokic and Marco would step up to the spot to convert past Alphonse Areola. Villarreal would hit back with a penalty of their own. Gerrard Moreno would be fouled after a nice run and Manu Trigueros made no mistake from the spot. The 1-1 draw between the sides would offer little other highlights for the neutral.
These games saw the Villarreal debut of Samu Castillejo, Alphonse Areola and Leo Baptistao, as well as the return of Mariano Barbosa.
Villarreal would then make the trip to North London to contest the Emirates Cup, a competition featuring Arsenal, Olympique Lyon and Wolfsburg, held at the Emirates stadium. An increase in quality of opponent would see Villarreal rise themselves and pick up two wins, against the German and the French sides.
The match between Villarreal and Wolfsburg would see three goals scored in the first twenty minutes. Mario opened the scoring for Villarreal with a left footed drive into the top corner that would give Wolfsburg goalkeeper Koen Casteels no chance of saving. The Germans would hit back two minutes later through Ivan Perisic. A well worked move down the right gave Perisic a tap in, which he put past Barbosa. Wolfsburg would only be level for eight minutes as 18-year-old Nahuel Leiva would capitalise on a loose ball to power into the net. With wholesale changes at the half neither team could settle as the game would finish 2-1 to the Spaniards.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_J5ZaAZ7sw
Villarreal would continue in the Emirates cup, defeating Lyon 2-0. The match would be highlighted by the combination of Gerard Moreno, Leo Baptistao and Samu Castillejo. Steed Malbranque would hit the bar for the French side before Bruno would open the scoring from the penalty spot for Villarreal. The second goal would come through great work by the triumvirate as Castillejo played Moreno, who released a reverse pass to the feet of Baptistao. From there it was a simple chip over the outcoming Lyon goalkeeper for his team’s second goal and his second of preseason. Villarreal would have some uneasy moments at the back which is a cause for concern.
A match against English Championship team Derby County would follow. A highly uninspired outing from both sides saw a 1-1 draw at Pride Park Stadium. A more secure defensive performance would please Marcelino with Villarreal giving away little opportunities other than one. Andreas Weimann would equalise for the Rams after Leo Baptistao opened the scoring for the Yellow Submarine. It would be Baptistao’s third goal in preseason, no doubt delighting Marcelino.
Villarreal’s final game in England saw them take on Everton in a testimonial match for former striker Duncan Ferguson. The majority of the game was played as serious contest before the arrival of Ferguson, and other surprising substitute Wayne Rooney. Gerard Moreno opened his preseason account from a Samu Castillejo corner. The outswinging corner was flicked on by Leo Baptistao before Moreno prodded the ball past Time Howard in the Everton goal. Nahuel would get his second of preseason after a smart flick by Moreno would send him through on goal. Tyias Browning grabbed a consolation goal for Everton long after the game was truly finished as a contest.
Villarreal’s latest win would come against Levante thanks to goals from 19-year-old Alfonso Pedraza and Nahuel, his third of preseason.
Villarreal have on final friendly, against Sassoulo, before opening their La Liga campaign against Real Betis on the 23rd of August.
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