Alexander Sörloth opened the scoring in a tense first half, and Pepe Reina kept Rennes at bay with a late-stage save that kept Villarreal’s hopes alive. The Spaniards climbed into a continental lead as they advanced in the Europa League by edging Rennes 1-0 and pushing through the knockout vein of the competition. The drama of the night hinged on Reina’s heroics and Sörloth’s finishing, lifting Villarreal into a position of momentum after a hard-fought tie. [Citation: Europa League match report]
José Rojo “Pacheta” guided his team through a demanding clash against the French side, securing their first victory in a match that demanded resilience and sharp finishing. Villarreal displayed quality in both phases of play, crafting numerous chances especially in the second period and seizing control late in the match with the crucial edge-of-the-box strike that forced a decisive moment from the Rennes goalkeeper. [Citation: Post-match analysis]
The game began with cautious play and mutual respect as both sides settled into a measured tempo. Ball possession swung between they, with neither side willing to overcommit in the early exchanges. [Commentary: early phase balance]
Following a demanding European night one, Villarreal chose a compact defensive approach and a sharper, more vertical style, with Sörloth positioned as the focal point. The Norwegian striker stood at the center of their build-up and their attacking intent, guiding moves and testing the visitors’ backline. [Analysis: Villarreal tactics]
Rennes looked to exploit the pace on the wings and mature their approach to stretch the home defense. Blas and Salah were the first to threaten with a crisp volley, and Sörloth created a clear chance after breaking behind the defence, only for the Rennes goalkeeper to react decisively on the edge of the goal line. [Match notes: key opportunities]
Bourigeaud answered with a precise header on the back of a fresh attacking sequence down the right, signaling Rennes’ intent to push back. The ball would soon return to Sörloth’s feet as Villarreal pressed forward and the Norwegian produced a long-range effort that required the goalkeeper’s full reach to deny him from outside the area. [Event recap]
As the balance tilted, Sörloth’s presence grew more influential. He collected a clearance, drove forward through the box, and fired a shot that the Rennes keeper could not stop, notching a goal that sparked confidence in Villarreal while tightening the defensive focus for Rennes. The result lent the hosts a stronger sense of assurance in defense and a sharper edge in their counters. [Impact assessment]
The second half started with Rennes pushing for parity, despite Villarreal maintaining a compact shape that limited dangerous openings. The visitors pressed high, trying to pin Villarreal back inside their own half and searching for a levelling moment. Pacheta reinforced the attack with Pedraza Morales to capitalize on counterattacking opportunities as Rennes committed more players forward. [Tactical notes]
Blas and Kalimuendo tested Villarreal with shots from inside the box, both missing narrowly as the goalkeeper and defense held firm. Rennes’ momentum culminated in a controversial moment when a perceived foul on Kalimuendo was reviewed, ultimately corrected after VAR intervention. [VAR decision]
Terrier found a way through with a diagonal strike that levelled the scores, but the action did not end there. Pedraza produced a decisive intervention inside the box, drawing a penalty call that sparked a late review. The ensuing five minutes of monitoring led to a fresh decision and a retaken moment that kept Villarreal’s hopes alive. Reina’s late stop became the defining moment, denying Terrier and preserving the 1-0 margin. The stop energized Villarreal as they closed out the match with defensive discipline and renewed belief in their project under Pacheta. [Match-ending sequence]
Data sheet:
Villarreal: Pepe Reina; Kiko Femenía, Mandi, Gabbia, Alberto Moreno, Capoue, Parejo, Álex Baena, Pedraza, Trigueros, Yeremy Pino, Sorloth, Terrats.
Rennes: Mandanda; Géla Doué, Omari, Teheate, Truffert, Bourigeaud, Santamaria, Desiré Doué, Blas, Yildirim, Salah, Kalimuendo.
Aim: 1-0, 36: Sörloth.
Referee: Harald Lechner (Austria). Yellow cards: Desiré Doué, Truffert, Yeremy Pino, Alberto Moreno, Álex Baena.
Events: The Group F Europa League match was played before 17,458 spectators at the Estadio de la Cerámica. [Match facts]