Villareal moved into the mid phase of the Conference League group stage and began pressing toward the qualifying rounds. They topped their group with nine points, enjoying a comfortable victory over Austria Vienna by five goals to nil. The standout moment came when Jose Luis Morales found the net three times in the second half, cementing the result and underscoring Villarreal’s dominance in this clash.
From the opening minutes, Villarreal’s second unit tried to impose a steady rhythm in an open match, moving the ball with confidence while still managing the game without undue pressure. They created several promising chances in both the first and second halves, showing good movement and a clear willingness to attack, even if some opportunities did not convert into goals. The visitors offered little resistance and paid a heavy price for a defensive lapse that Villarreal capitalized on with precision.
Austria Vienna entered the game as the weakest side in the group so far, and that reality showed. The Austrian side struggled to muster any sustained pressure, with Villarreal managing the pace and tempo while avoiding being drawn into a frantic contest. The Vienna team began the match with a dynamic, if somewhat lifeless, approach that failed to disrupt Villarreal’s organization or construction of play, allowing the Spanish side to exploit space as the early moves unfolded.
The match moved into a back-and-forth phase, with Villarreal pressing high and delivering accurate crosses that tested the defense. Yet the opening goal did not come until a well-worked sequence culminating in a clinical finish from Alex Baena. A smooth build-up shortly after resulted in a second goal from Danjuma, putting the hosts firmly in control as the first half approached its midpoint. The breakthrough arrived with an excellent combination play that highlighted the visitors’ vulnerability at the back and Villarreal’s finishing quality.
The Spanish contingency even managed to push a lighthearted note into the action as fans around the stadium celebrated the evolving scoreline. A post on social media captured the moment, with supporters marveling at the clinical finishing from Morales and the relentlessness of the Villarreal attack. The playful sentiment underscored the match as much as the scoreline and served as a reminder of how quickly football can pivot into a display of individual brilliance and team coordination. [Source: UEFA highlights]
Between the two goals, Austria found some sporadic openings as the game opened up, but the final ball did not find its mark. A long-range effort from Fitz near the half-hour mark tested the goalkeeper, striking the crossbar and reminding viewers that the Austrian side could threaten when given space. For the most part, however, Villarreal controlled the tempo and dictated the pace, with substitutions at the intermission designed to manage workload rather than alter the strategic plan. Morales then emerged as the decisive figure, scoring three times across the second half to seal the match and underscoring his value to the squad. The natural consequence was a comfortable 3-0 advantage at the hour mark, quickly extended to 4-0 and then 5-0 as Morales continued to terrorize the visitors with quick breaks and smart finishing.
The mood around the stadium reflected a sense of growing confidence. While Austria attempted to intensify their forward efforts, their advances did not test the Villarreal defense sufficiently, and the hosts maintained discipline while continuing to press for more goals. The conclusion of the match saw Morales notch his third and final goal, followed by a late counterattack that produced a fifth for Villarreal. The outcome was decided well before the final whistle, with the home side maintaining a clean sheet and finishing the evening strongly as they aim to secure advancement from the group. [Match report attribution: official competition records]
Data sheet:
5 – Villareal: Jorgensen, Dela, Mandi, Cuenca, Mojica, Chukwueze, Morlanes, Coquelin, Álex Baena, Jackson, Danjuma
0 – Austria Vienna: Fruchtl, Ranftl, Muhl, Galvao, Kreiker, Fischer, Holland, Braunoder, Jokic, Fitz, Huskovic
Goals: 1-0, 18: Alex Baena. 2-0, 43: Danjuma. 3-0, 75: Morales. 4-0, 80: Morales. 5-0, 87: Morales.
Judge: Jochem Kamphuis. He warned Capoue on Villarreal and Kreiker for Austria Vienna.
Events: The match was played in front of 9,539 spectators at the Ciutat de València stadium on the third matchday of the Conference League group stage.