Villarreal was eliminated from the Conference League after a 0-1 defeat to Anderlecht on Thursday. Castellón, the competition’s top scorer, paid a heavy price for its lack of precision in front of goal as Verbruggen found the net for the Belgian side.
Quique Setien’s side enjoyed moments of possession and had chances, but the match lacked the decisive touch needed to overturn the deficit. The final phase of the game unfolded amid a tense atmosphere, with Villarreal pressing for an equalizer while Anderlecht looked to capitalize on quick breaks and defensive lapses that briefly unsettled the Spaniards. The contest started with Villarreal asserting control, displaying good movement, patient buildup, and occasional bursts of fluidity that threatened the visitor’s goal in the early minutes.
Around the middle of the field, Álex Baena was instrumental in creating and finishing plays, flanked by Parejo and the youngster Terrats. Their combination play helped Villarreal keep possession and probe the Anderlecht back line, while Chukwueze provided width and depth, stretching the visitors’ defense. Baena twice came close to opening the scoring, with attempts that Morales and Gerard Moreno nearly converted. The most dangerous moment came when Chukwueze’s strike was parried by Debast after a brief miscommunication in the defense, with the ball nearly finding the net before the goalkeeper recovered to deny Villarreal.
Anderlecht remained dangerous through rapid transitions and by exploiting any misstep from Villarreal. Early on, Foyth’s errant attempt offered the Belgian side a fleeting glimpse of goal, and a subsequent moment involving Reina foreshadowed the visitors’ growing confidence. Cuenca’s risky distribution nearly handed Anderlecht a breakthrough, and Villarreal needed a strong defensive response to stay level as the first half progressed.
As the game wore on, Anderlecht appeared more composed and began to impose themselves with sharper running and vertical play. Villarreal, for their part, continued to press high and create chances, but the decisive breakthrough did not arrive before the halftime whistle. Verbruggen remained vigilant, making a crucial save to deny Baena and, in a late sequence, the crossbar blocked Gerard Moreno after a composed team move, keeping the score at 0-0 at the break.
The second half opened with renewed intensity and a harsh blow for Villarreal. A corner kick led to a moment in which Murillo failed to convert a scoring opportunity, and Alberto Moreno quickly replied with a measure of composure that put Villarreal on the back foot momentarily. Verbruggen then produced a spectacular double save, first stopping Parejo’s shot and immediately denying Gerard Moreno’s follow-up, preserving Anderlecht’s lead and injecting renewed confidence into the Belgian side.
With time running short, Anderlecht began to push higher up the pitch, using Aumuzi and Slimani to threaten on the break. Setién attempted to modify the pattern by bringing on Pino and Jackson, seeking an extra spark in the attacking third. Yet it was Anderlecht who found the night’s decisive moment after a well-executed offensive sequence. Slimani’s involvement proved pivotal, with a well-timed pass that released Aumuzi into space, enabling the final touch that found the back of the net and put the Belgian team ahead in the 73rd minute.
The goal reshaped the dynamic of the match. Villarreal, now chasing the result, pushed more players forward in a bid to avoid elimination. They created pressure through rapid combinations and late drives, with Jackson threatening from distance as Verbruggen held firm. Although the late onslaught produced a few promising situations, the defense remained solid and Anderlecht closed out the game with discipline, sealing their 1-0 victory and advancing on aggregate to the next round.
Data sheet
0 – Villarreal: Reina; Foyth, Cuenca, Mandi, Alberto Moreno; Terrats (Lo Celso, min 58), Parejo, Álex Baena, Chukwueze, Morales (Yéremi Pino, min 72), and Gerard (Jackson, min 72).
1 – Anderlecht: Verbruggen; Murillo, Debast, Vertonghen, N’Diaye; Diawara, Verschaeren (Arstad, min. 76), Refaelov (Ashimeru, min. 58), Dreyer, Auzun (Stroeykens, min. 87), and Raman (Slimani, min. 58).
Aim: 0-1, min. 73: Slimani.
Judge: Marco Di Bello (Italy). He showed yellow cards to Murillo, Verschaeren, Slimani and Ashimeru for Anderlecht, Yéremi Pino and Cuenca for Villarreal.
Event: The Conference League Round of 16 rematch was played in front of 16,212 spectators at the Estadio de la Cerámica in Villarreal.