Juan Foyth’s late strike, arriving in Spain this Wednesday after lifting the World Cup in Qatar, propelled Villarreal to a 2-1 victory over Valencia as the team celebrated a return to the renovated La Cerámica, which hosted its first official match of the season.
The regional clash delivered a lively, action-packed first half. Valencia moved ahead with Edinson Cavani leading the charge, only for Samu Chukwueze to draw level with a late equalizer. After the break, both sides cooled the tempo and settled into a tighter contest, with Villarreal taking control on a late corner that sealed the result before Valencia could fully overturn the balance.
Early on, Villarreal seized the initiative as Álex Baena misplayed a clearance near midfield, allowing Gerard to press and a miscue from the Valencia defense left the ball loose in front of goal. The visitors briefly looked vulnerable before recovering and reorganizing their unit.
Valencia failed to stop a resurgent Villarreal. In the opening minutes, Capoue produced a sharp strike following a stoppage in the box, only for Mamardashvili to parry the effort away.
Gennaro Gattuso’s men steadied the ship and pushed forward with three dangerous bursts from Lino, Cavani, and Nico, testing the resilience of the hosts. Valencia responded with sustained pressure as the game opened up.
Samuel Lino crafted a bright moment, firing on target before Cavani converted the rebound to put Valencia in front. Villarreal answered immediately, with mid-range shots from Chukwueze and Yeremy threatening Mamardashvili.
The match remained balanced and entertaining, with both teams attacking with vigor. Each side had moments, but neither could quite finish until Villarreal found an opening late on.
Parejo broke Valencia’s high press with a superb, incisive run and released Chukwueze, who fed Gerard. The forward’s cross shot beat the keeper and rolled in for the decisive goal.
Heading back to the docks at halftime, both coaches urged their squads to maintain discipline and sharpen their attacks. The second period saw fewer clear chances but plenty of tactical battles as both sides looked for openings.
The tempo dipped but the drama remained. Neither side could press forward with the same urgency, yet each had moments that kept the outcome in suspense. A first notable opportunity in the second half came when Gerard’s shot cleared the Valencia goal after a neat build-up.
In the end, the contest favored Villarreal as they controlled the closing stages. A late corner from Parejo found the head of Juan Foyth, who powered home the winner to make it 2-1. Capoue later tested the defense with a diagonal strike, while Castillejo answered for Valencia with a late header that kept the crowd engaged.
After the break, both managers reminded their teams of the need for smart positioning and patient combination play. The game shifted from high-octane early exchanges to a more cautious, strategic duel where opportunities were earned rather than gifted.
Data sheet:
Villarreal: Reina, Foyth, Albiol, Pau Torres, Moreno, Capoue, Parejo, Baena, Yeremy, Gerard, Chukwueze. Substitutes: Femenía, Pedraza, Trigueros, Jackson, Morales.
Valencia: Mamardashvili, Diakhaby, Gabriel, Gayá, Nico, Guillamón, Musah, Castillejo, Lino, Cavani, Hugo Duro. Substitutes: Moriba, Kluivert, Moriba, Duro.
Goals: 0-1, 22′; Cavani 1-1, 45′; Chukwueze 2-1, 88′.
Referee: Sánchez Martínez. Foyth and Musah each received cautions while Moriba and Cömert were booked for Valencia.
Highlights: The La Liga Santander match took place at La Cerámica, the renovated venue hosting its first official game of the season. A moment of silence honored Pelé.