Villareal 0-1 Girona
A second-half strike by Cristhian Stuani was enough to give Girona a 0-1 win over Villarreal in tonight’s La Liga clash at Estadio de la Ceramica.
Girona boss Eusebio Sacristan set his team up to attack, and they gave as good as they got from a talented Villarreal side, while Javier Calleja has plenty to ponder.
Villarreal got off the mark with a hard-fought draw with Sevilla, and La Liga 2018 betting odds have Calleja’s team as outside bets for a top-four place. At the very least, the Yellow Submarine will expect to land in the Europa places again in 2018/19. But on this evidence, they need to find a cutting edge.
In contrast, Girona were hammered 1-4 by Real Madrid. But Julen Lopeteguis’ Los Blancos had been imperious on that occasion, and against Villarreal Sacristan’s team looked a slick outfit.
Highlights of the game
In an end-to-end game, Girona opened up brightly and Borja Garcia forced a save on four minutes with a strong header from a Pedro Porro cross.
The Yellow Submarine had plenty of attacking talent to call upon, and Cameroon striker Karl Toko Ekambi came close on 11 minutes but his shot was saved. Girona has its own attacking threat, principally in the form of Cristhian Stuani. The former Middlesbrough star scored 21 goals for Girona last season, and he had an early sighter from distance that was comfortably saved.
The big La Liga 2018 news in Villarreal over the summer was striker Gerard Moreno’s return to the El Madrigal for a club record fee. And as the game continued to flow from end to end, he had his first chance of the night, put through by ex-Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla, but the fan’s favourite shot straight at the keeper.
Villarreal midfielder Pablo Fornals was busy and was stretching the Girona defence, but his first effort was blocked. And as the game continued to swing back and forth, Porro and Juanpe both had good efforts for the visitors.
Fornals almost created the opener on the stroke of half time, but Moreno’s shot flew narrowly wide.
The deadlock was finally broken on 54 minutes with a goal which silenced the 15,000 home fans; and it was Girona’s main man who did the business. Stuani collected a through ball from Borja Garcia and fired home to spark celebrations on the visitors’ bench.
As Villarreal tried to get back in the game quickly, Fornals continued to create opportunities for the hosts, and he set up Alfonso Pedraza but his shot was easily saved. Calleja was forced into a change by an injury to Santiago Caseres and he brought on more firepower in the shape of Carlos Bacca. The Colombian was in action soon, running at the Girona defence and winning free-kicks.
But, as the clock ran down, the Yellow Submarine was making little progress and so Calleja made a late change, bringing on Nicola Sansone to replace Karl Toko Ekambi.
In injury time, the tireless Fornals had a shot from outside the box only to see his effort saved again.
Key statistics
Villareal were clear favourites to win this clash with pre-match SBOBET odds at 1.57 and Girona at 6.00, but the visitors deserved their win.
The Yellow Submarine had 64 per cent possession in the first half but the shot count was pretty even at nine to eight.
That pattern continued in the second half, as Villarreal huffed and puffed with 65 per cent possession; and the visitor’s won the shot count by 14 to 13. But the crucial statistic is that Girona had six shots on target to Villarreal’s three, while both defences got in plenty of blocks.
That’s something Calleja will expect his expensively assembled front line to rectify, and sooner rather than later.
Girona’s first win of the season take them into the top half, but Villarreal remain at the wrong end of the table with a single point from three games.
What’s next?
Girona host Celta Vigo after the break; a week later, there’s a big test for Sacristan’s ambitious players when they visit the Camp Nou for a Catalan derby against champions Barcelona. Lionel Messi and co won their first two and face new boys Huesca this weekend.
Villarreal have a trip to Madrid, to face Leganes. They may not be Atletico or Los Blancos, but Leganes still pack a punch on their day. Then it’s back to the Estadio de la Ceramica to host Valencia, hoping that the visitors will have half an eye on their Champions League opener.
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