Villarreal and Athletic share the points in a tense 1-1 duel for seventh place
The clash between Villarreal and Athletic ended in a one goal draw, a reflection of a fierce battle for seventh place that unfolded with intensity in the second half. Both teams carried clear ambitions to claim three points, with open spaces inviting fast transitions and sharp attacking sequences as the clock wore on.
Unai Emery did not hesitate to shake things up at halftime. The XI that had previously overwhelmed Bayern Munich in midweek was replaced by a fresh lineup designed to seize control from the opening minutes of the second period. This tactical refresh helped Villarreal dominate possession in the first half, setting a tone of pressing and disciplined buildup that tested Athletic from the outset.
Despite Villarreal’s territorial advantage, there were few clean scoring chances early on. The home side pressed high and forced some hurried clearances, but the visiting defensive lines were compact and alert, stifling direct routes to goal. Still, Athletic managed to resist and gradually found opportunities to counter with purpose, especially in the latter phase of the first period.
De Marcos produced a composed finish for Athletic midway through the first half, a well-placed strike from a narrow angle that required a precise save from the Villarreal goalkeeper. The goalkeeper extended fully to push the ball away, keeping the score level as a rising sense of urgency settled over the game.
At the foot of Villarreal’s flank, a fiercely contested sequence developed as the game moved toward the latter stages of the first half. A move culminating in a shot from Pedraza tested the visiting goalkeeper, who parried with a strong stretch and kept the ball from crossing the line during a crowded moment in the box.
In the 37th minute, the match drew VAR attention for a potential handball incident involving Aurier. The official decision did not award a penalty, as the ruling concluded that the arm involved was natural and close to the body in motion, avoiding a spot kick.
As the clock approached halftime, Bilbao’s side hit on the counter and produced a moment of danger that briefly raised hopes. Iñaki Williams and Raúl García combined effectively in the build-up, with García finishing decisively after a superb piece of play from Iker Muniain in the buildup. The goal was initially flagged as possibly offside by the on-field view, but a thorough review revealed that Williams was behind the ball, allowing the goal to stand. The decision stood under the scrutiny of the VAR review, and Athletic went into the break with a lead.
Resuming after the interval, Athletic continued to press for a second goal, and Williams looked set to stretch the lead but retrieved a hurried chance as the tempo remained high. Villarreal, under pressure to equalize, found their response in the high-energy approach of Emery’s side, which intensified the hosts’ ball movement and forced errors higher up the pitch from their opponents.
Emery responded by deploying a triple offensive change designed to reframe the game’s tempo. Gerard, Danjuma, and Lo Celso were introduced, injecting pace and creativity into Villarreal’s forward line. The fresh combination culminated in a sweeping move that ended with Pedraza delivering a crucial equalizer, bringing the scoreboard back to parity and injecting renewed vigor into the home crowd.
With the score level, the match carried an air of urgency. Unai Simón produced a pair of vital saves to deny Villarreal, first from a powerful strike by Danjuma and then from a late free kick by Lo Celso as the clock neared the 90th minute. The late occasions of high-stakes attacking play demonstrated the balance between two teams intent on victory and determined to avoid defeat.
The final minutes turned into a high-speed contest with both sides trading rapid transitions and looking for a decisive breakthrough. Yet the defenses stood firm and the improvisations in attack did not result in a winner. The contest concluded as a draw, reflective of a match where neither side could sustain the momentum enough to tilt the result in their favor.
Data sheet:
1 – Villareal: Asenjo, Mario Gaspar (Foyth, m.78), Aurier, Mandi, Pedraza; Iborra, Manu Trigueros (Lo Celso, art. 60), Moi Gómez, Yeremy (Danjuma, art. 60), Chukwueze (Coquelin, art. 78) and Alcácer (Gerard, art. 60).
1 – Athletic: Unai Simon, De Marcos (Zarraga, art.76), Vivian, Yeray, Balenziaga; Berenguer (Nico Williams, m.66), Unai Vencedor (Dani García, m.76), Vesga (Petxarromán, m.27), Muniain; Raúl García (Sancet, m.66) and Iñaki Williams.
targets: 0-1, art.44: Raúl García. 1-1, art.60: Pedraza.
Judge: From Cerro Grande (C. Madrileño). He warned Pedraza for Villarreal and Iñaki Williams, Dani García, Sancet and Petxarromán for Athletic.
events: The match, which coincides with the 31st match day of La Liga Santander, was played at La Cerámica stadium in front of 16,603 spectators.
Citation: La Liga official match report and post-match summaries provide these details and confirm the scoreline and key incidents of the game.