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Europa League

Zurich 3 - Villarreal 2

Zurich: Da Costa; Elvedi, Nef, Djimisti; Francisco Rodríguez (Maurice Brunner 81‘), Yapi Yapo, Kukeli, Schönbächler; Chikhaoui, Etoundi (Chermiti 53’), Buff (Rossini 70‘). 3-4-3.
Villarreal: Juan Carlos; Rukavina, Gabriel, Víctor Ruíz, Adrián Marín; Moi Gómez (Vietto 58’), Jonathan Dos Santos, Tomás Pina (Bruno 64’), Espinosa (Cheryshev 68’); Gerard Moreno, Giovani. 4-4-2.

Goals:
0-1. 20. Pina. Steered near post header across keeper from Espinosa corner.
1-1. 21. Etoundi. Got in front of keeper to head Schönbächler cross in to net.
1-2. 24. Gerard Moreno. First time volley past Da Costa from Marín’s cross.
2-2. 26. Buff. Free kick from wide on left which bounced past Juan Carlos.
3-2. 29. Chikhaoui. Poked angled shot past keeper after Elvedi laid ball across.

Villarreal lost for the first time in this season’s Europa League, a 3-2 defeat at Zurich leaving them in second spot behind Borussia Moenchengladbach. All the goals came in a frenetic ten minute period midway through the first half, with Tomás Pina heading Marcelino’s side in to the lead from Espinosa’s corner, but Etoundi getting between a hesitant Juan Carlos and Víctor Ruíz to head the equalizer just a minute later. Gerard Moreno volleyed home Adrián Marín’s cross to put the locals back in front, but once again Zurich levelled the scores with a long free kick from Buff which bounced past Juan Carlos in to the net (there was some doubt whether Djimisti got a touch with his head or not), and just three minutes Chikhaoui got what was to prove the winner. Pina, Vietto and Cheryshev tested Da Costa after the interval, and Rukavina fired an impressive shot against the post, but the Swiss side held on for a win which keeps their slim hopes of qualifying alive.