Villarreal faced Anderlecht on home soil and missed out on a place in the quarter-finals of the Conference League. A lone second-half strike by Islam Slimani gave Anderlecht a 1-0 advantage on the evening and a 2-1 aggregate lead, sealing their progression as Villarreal bowed out of the competition. The Yellow Submarine created chances in abundance, but could not convert with Bart Verbruggen producing a heroic performance in goal. The stands echoed with chants as fans called Quique Setién to rethink and regroup.
Villarreal endured a night of relentless pressure, peppering the Anderlecht goal with more than 20 shots and holding 62 percent of the ball. Yet the Dutch goalkeeper produced nine crucial saves to keep his side in the tie. His display, following his heroics in the previous rounds, underscored a standout performance that proved decisive despite the odds.
Coach Brian Riemer reshuffled the lineup at the break, lifting Amuzu and Dreyer higher and bringing Slimani into the fray. Slimani added attacking depth through wing crosses and direct play, testing Villarreal with longer balls and switching the balance to stretch the hosts and relax their defensive structure. The visitors capitalized on that shift to press for the breakthrough as the match progressed.
Since Unai Emery departed for the Premier League and took charge of Aston Villa after Villarreal reached the Round of 16, Quique Setién has overseen a run without a win in the Conference League. The sequence includes a 2-2 draw with Hapoel Beersheva, a 3-0 loss to Lech Poznan, and a 1-1 draw followed by a 0-1 defeat to Anderlecht in the two legs of this tie. These results have punctuated Villarreal’s campaign under the current manager in this competition.
Anderlecht are enjoying their first quarter-final appearance since they faced Manchester United in the Europa League during the 2016-17 season. The Purples supported each other in a period of real pressure, ensuring they held firm against a blitz of Villarreal attempts.
Videos and News About Anderlecht vs. Villarreal in the Conference League
Minute 73 saw Islam Slimani strike to give Anderlecht the lead. With Villarreal’s defence momentarily static, Amuzu released a pass to Michael Murillo, who found Slimani for a composed finish at the far post.
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