European Champions League

Villarreal 1 – Monaco 2

Villarreal: Sergio Asenjo; Mario Gaspar, Musacchio, N'Diaye, José Ángel; Roberto Soriano, Bruno, Manu Trigueros, Samu Castillejo, Alexandre Pato, Santos Borré (Mario González 75’). 4-4-2.
Monaco: Subasic; Raggi, Glik, Jemerson, Mendy; Fabinho, Bakayoko; Dirar, Bernardo Silva (Moutinho 80’), Lemar; Germain (Carrillo 68’). 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
0-1. 03. Fabinho (penalty). After N’Diaye brought down Lemar inside the area.
1-1. 35. Pato. Steered header wide of Subasic after Santos headed ball across.
1-2. 72. Bernardo Silva. Cut across area and turned angled shot back past keeper.

Yellow cards: N’Diaye 02’, Lemar 06’, Fabinho 75’, Bakayoko 86’, Mendy 86’, 86’, Moutinho 90’ / red cards: Mendy 86’

Villarreal’s hopes of a place in this year’s Champions League are in serious jeopardy after they lost 1-2 to Monaco in the first leg of the play-off round. New coach Fran Escribá was thrown in at the deep end after Marcelino was sacked a few days ago, and with several key players out injured or suspended he only had thirteen of his first team squad to count on. That included five players signed in recent weeks, Alexandre Pato and Santos Borré starting up front and N’Diaye playing out of position in defence, and with only three minutes gone the ex Betis midfielder gave away a penalty on Lemar which Fabinho converted. With ten minutes to go to the break Pato levelled the scores after Santos headed the ball across, but the visitors could have had a couple of penalties before Bernardo Silva cut across the area to restore the lead with twenty minutes to go. A quarter of an hour later the French league side were left with ten men when Mendy picked up two bookings in the same incident, but Subasic kept out José Angel and Mario after that to give his team the advantage going in to next Tuesday’s return leg.