Setién’s side fell at La Cerámica, leaving the race for the quarter-finals of the competition behind them.
Villarreal faced a shock elimination from the UEFA Europa Conference League as Islam Slimani’s second-half strike gave Anderlecht the lead in the tie, closing the night 0-1 on the scoreboard and 1-2 on aggregate. The yellow submarine created numerous chances, but were repeatedly foiled by the brilliant, almost superhuman display of Bart Verbruggen in goal. The home crowd roared for Quique Setién to push forward, chanting for a swift change of fortune as the match slipped away.
All details of the Villarreal versus Anderlecht Conference League clash unfold with a single line of action and a chorus of near-misses, tempered by Verbruggen’s performance and the visitors’ discipline. The Dutch keeper had already become a hero in the previous round against Ludogorets in the penalty shootout, and he added another memorable night with nine saves at crucial moments that kept Villarreal at bay. The scoreline does not reflect the tempo of the encounter, where chances flowed more freely than the stat lines might suggest. The home side pressed relentlessly, testing the Anderlecht defense with flank plays and repeated incursions into dangerous zones, only to be thwarted again and again by a goalkeeper in superb form (Goal).
Half-time adjustments from Brian Riemer, notably the shift that elevated Amuzu and Dreyer, coincided with Slimani entering the fray. The Algerian’s presence added a different dimension to the attack, allowing the visitors to exploit the wide areas and play longer balls to stretch Villarreal’s shape. This strategic change aimed to relieve sustained pressure from the hosts and diversify the running lanes, enabling faster transitions and strategic buildup from the back (Goal).
Since Unai Emery left Villarreal to take charge of Aston Villa, Quique Setién has overseen a run of results that have not tilted in Villarreal’s favor in this competition. The sequence includes a 2-2 draw with Hapoel Beer-Sheva, a 3-0 defeat to Lech Poznan, a 1-1 draw in the first leg against Anderlecht, and a 0-1 defeat in the second leg. Those results mark a difficult stretch for the club in the Conference League under the current coach and frame the narrative of this elimination (Goal).
Anderlecht’s quarter-final appearance marks a return to the last eight for the Belgian side, their first since their Europa League tie with Manchester United in the 2016/17 season. The Purples showed resilience and unity in a moment of significant pressure, celebrating together as the clock ticked down and the advancement was confirmed (Goal).
VIDEOS AND NEWS FROM ANDERLECHT VS. VILLARREAL OF THE CONFERENCE LEAGUE
In the 73rd minute the breakthrough arrived. Islam Slimani delivered with a precise finish as a well-timed pass from Amuzu found Michael Murillo, who crossed to the far post for Slimani to volley home. The moment electrified Anderlecht and left Villarreal briefly stunned as the visitors took the lead on the night (Goal).
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Source: Goal