Villarreal sought a second goal to seal advancement after securing a 1-1 draw against Anderlecht. The Spanish side had taken the lead through a well-executed finish by Manu Trigueros in the first half, while Anderlecht answered with a second-half strike from Anders Dreyer that kept the tie alive for the Belgian club.
Quique Setién’s men controlled long stretches and pushed hard for the decisive goal that would have sent them through, while Anderlecht, under Danish coach Brian Riemer, defended stoutly and offered occasional counterattacks. The visitors appeared to manage the tempo at times and gave their fans a memorable European night despite the result.
Anderlecht opened with a high press and tried to impose possession on Villarreal, forcing the home team to drop deeper. Early offside calls against the Belgian side indicated their ambition to disturb Villarreal high up the pitch, while the chill in Brussels, a drizzle in the air and a brisk 13 degrees below zero is not exactly ideal, the atmosphere nevertheless remained electric in the stadium for the first leg of the knockouts.
Villarreal gradually asserted themselves and crafted the game’s first scoring chance in the 24th minute. The buildup involved a combination of quick touches and intelligent movement that culminated in a shot against the goalkeeper Verbruggen, who parried the attempt. Anderlecht responded with a strong counter, and Samuel Raman created a first modern chance from the penalty area, but the spot-kick was saved by Pepe Reina in the ensuing moment.
At the 28th minute, the deadlock broke as Trigueros received a pass on the right of the far post and struck a decisive volley past Verbruggen, gifting Villarreal the lead. The goal sparked a flurry of activity, and a social media highlight captured the moment as Chukwueze set up the finish that opened the scoring for the home side.
The remainder of the first half saw Villarreal maintaining the upper hand with control and pressure. The hosts boasted a possession advantage around six-tenths of the period and registered several attempts while Anderlecht tried to sustain danger with quick touches and set pieces. The half ended with Villarreal holding a narrow lead as the teams headed to the dressing rooms for the break.
In the second half, Villarreal continued to press forward while Anderlecht began to apply more aggressive pressure of their own. The visitors created a dangerous moment when Dreyer delivered a long-range strike that slipped past Reina but found the back of the net only after a minor deflection, leveling the score and altering the match’s dynamic. The goal arrived around the 57th minute and shifted momentum toward Anderlecht as the game opened up and both sides pushed for a winner.
Setién responded by making strategic changes, inserting Gerard Moreno to partner with Chukwueze on the right and bringing Yeremy Pino into the attack. The substitutions aimed to inject pace and creativity as Villarreal sought the crucial second goal to restore their lead before the away leg, but the Belgian side remained resolute in defense and threatened on transition moments.
Post-match comments from supporters and analysts highlighted the emotional energy of the clash. The atmosphere swelled with anticipation as the two teams prepared for the second leg, which would be hosted at the Ceramic Stadium in Spain. The visitors pressed and Villarreal defended with organization, attempting to balance attack with security at the back as extra time loomed on the horizon for the tie.
In the broader context of their campaigns, Anderlecht stood as a club with a notable European history dating back to successes in the seventies and the era of the UEFA Cup. The Belgian side showed resilience in this round and carried momentum from earlier fixtures. Villarreal, meanwhile, continued their pursuit of European depth and domestic form, with a league test looming against Betis prior to the return leg against Anderlecht.
The upcoming second leg would take place on a scheduled Thursday, continuing a tightly spaced knockout schedule that tests squad depth and tactical versatility for both teams. The stage was set for a dramatic finish as Villarreal aimed to reach the quarterfinals while Anderlecht looked to overturn the deficit and maintain their European ambitions.
– Data sheet –
1 – Anderlecht: Verbruggen; Ndiaye, Sardella, Vertonghen, Debast, Murillo, Verschaeren, Diawara, Auzun, Rafaelov, Dreyer, Raman.
1 – Villarreal: Reina; Mojica, Cuenca, Mandi, Foyth, Baena, Parejo, Trigueros, Morales, Chukwueze, Pascual.
Goals: 0-1 Trigueros art.28, 1-1 Dreyer art.57.
Referee: Bartosz Frankowski (Poland). The attacker Trigueros received a caution in the 37th minute. The first leg attracted about 21,000 spectators at the Lotto Park venue in Brussels.