In a match that grabbed headlines, Villarreal delivered a dynamic performance as José Luis Morales returned to form with style, steering the home team at Ciutat de València. The atmosphere was electric as Morales provided a sustained attacking threat, contributing two goals and one assist to spark a 4-2 comeback in a tense first leg before the Conference League group stage.
The game started with immediate tension. A lively Livaja cut into the box from the right, catching the Villarreal defense off guard, while Biuk finished with composure to put Hadjuk Split ahead in the second minute. The early setback forced Villarreal to recalibrate quickly under pressure from the Croatian visitors, whose first-half pressure tested Unai Emery’s squad from the outset. Chukwueze surfaced with the initial bright moment for Villarreal, but Kalinic was sharp, denying Gerard Moreno with a superb reflex save just minutes after the Hadjuk opener as the home side sought an immediate response.
With tempo rising, Villarreal found a higher gear. Morales, back at Ciutat de València after his stint with Levante, initiated a crucial turnaround by firing from the right after a sequence in the box, followed by a cross from Álex Baena that levelled matters at 2-1 before the end of the first quarter. The momentum swung decisively as Villarreal exploited gaps in Hadjuk’s back line, orchestrating two more goals before the interval. Morales applied the finishing touch after a rolled ball between the lines, giving Villarreal the lead and setting the stage for a dramatic arc of play.
By the time the second goal of the night landed, Morales had already asserted himself as the catalyst. He pressed forward on the counter, converting a swift sequence into a clinically taken third goal, then combined with Chukwueze to widen the gap and silence the visitors’ resilience. The combination broke down Hadjuk’s defensive shape and left Kalinic with little chance as the ball found its way into the net.
Morales was again involved as the second half opened with Villarreal extending their advantage. He started a fresh counter, using his pace to stretch the defense and lay on a slick assist to Gerard Moreno, who finished decisively to push the score to 4-1. Moreno’s finish reflected the team’s growing confidence and their willingness to press high, taking advantage of any lull in Hadjuk’s organization.
The second half unfolded with Villarreal in control, pressing aggressively and seeking to consolidate the lead. Álex Baena tested the goalkeeper with a powerful, accurate drive from outside the box, while Emery managed the bench by bringing on Kiko Femenía and Lo Celso, alongside others, to sustain intensity. The substitutes added fresh legs as the home side dominated possession and rhythm, maintaining their poise as the clock advanced toward the closing stages.
Hadjuk’s resilience shone briefly when a controversial moment turned the tide. A handball incident led to a penalty that invited Fossati to pull a goal back for the visitors, making the score 4-2 in the 85th minute. The late strike did little to alter the trajectory of the tie, as Villarreal remained firmly in command as the game wore on. The hosts faced a potential scare when Pau Torres diverted a cross with his head, narrowly missing an own goal, but the defense held firm, and the result stood as a clear demonstration of Villarreal’s attacking ambition and collective discipline.
The outcome leaves Villarreal backed by a multi-goal cushion ahead of the return leg in Split, where they will aim to defend their lead and secure a place in the Conference League group stage. The performance underlined Villarreal’s intent to blend youthful energy with seasoned experience, and Morales’s influence was a highlight—a reminder of the player’s ability to tilt matches with decisive moments.
Data sheet
4 – Villarreal: Reina, Dela (Pau Torres, m.60), Mandi, Cuenca, Pedraza (Kiko Femenía, m.60), Chukwueze, Coquelin, Morlanes (Parejo, m.60), Álex Baena, Morales (Jackson, m.73) and Gerard Moreno (Lo Celso, art. 60)
2 – Hadjuk Split: Kalinic, Mikanovic (Lovrencsics, m.70) Borevkovic, Elez (Fossati, m.79), Melnjak, Grgic, Awaziem, Sahiti (Mlakar, m.70), Krovinovic, Biuk and Livaja (Kalinic, m.79) (Atanasov, m.83).
targets: 0-1, m.2: Biuk. 1-1, art.14: Morales. 2-1, art.19: Livaja (own goal). 3-1, art.36: Morales. 4-1, art.46: Gerard Moreno. 4-2, m.85: Fossati (penalty).
Judge: Aleksey Kulbakov (BLR). Locales warned Álex Baena and Mandi and visitors Livaja, Sahiti, Lovrencsics and Awaziem.
Events: The first leg of the final round of the stage before the Conference League group stage was played in front of approximately 11,000 spectators at Ciutat de València.