First Division - Day 32

Alavés 2 - Villarreal 1

Alavés: Pacheco; Kiko Femenía, Rodrigo Ely, Laguardia, Theo Hernández; Marcos Llorente, Manu García; Toquero (Katai 77‘), Camarasa (Vigaray 89’), Ibai Gómez (Alexis 75’); Deyverson. 4-2-3-1.
Villarreal: Andrés; Mario, Musacchio, Alvaro, Jaume Costa; Adrián López (Santos Borré 67’), Bruno, Rodri (Trigueros 57‘), Roberto Soriano; Bakambu, Sansone (Leo Suárez 87’). 4-4-2.

Goals:
1-0. 35. Ibai Gómez. First time volley past Andrés after Kiko cross headed clear.
2-0. 45. Rodrigo Ely. Got above defence to head Kiko centre down past keeper.
2-1. 70. Bakambu. Shot from left of area which looped off Ely past Pacheco.

Yellow cards: Bakambu 26’, Musacchio 44’, Toquero 61’, Roberto Soriano 66’, Theo Hernández 92’, Jaume Costa 92’.

Villarreal missed out on a chance to close up on the Champions League spots, and also to put some daylight between themselves and the teams chasing them for the Europa League places, after they were beaten 2-1 by Alavés on Monday evening. Both keepers were in action early on, Andrés saving from Ibai Gómez and Deyverson, and Pacheco keeping out Roberto Soriano. With ten minutes to go to the break though Ibai volleyed a first time shot back in to the net after Mario headed out a Kiko Femenía centre, and with half time approaching Rodrigo Ely headed a second from another Femenía cross. Andrés had to save again from Toquero after the restart, but with twenty minutes to go Bakambu got one back with a shot which deflected in off Ely after Mario won the ball off Theo Hernández. After that Bakambu, Trigueros and Mario all tested Pacheco, and Bakambu could have saved a point had he not shot wide when free on goal in injury time. Villarreal end the day just a point ahead of sixth placed Athletic Bilbao, with their hosts now eleven points below them in eleventh place.