a late strike by Nicolas Jackson secured a 2-1 victory for Villarreal over Almería at Ciutat de Valencia. The game was a tense, physical affair where Almería led in the first half and Villarreal fought back in the second, aided by Álex Baena who scored but was sent off during his celebration.
As the match appeared destined for a stalemate, Jackson produced a decisive counterattack following a crucial assist from Dani Parejo. In a moment charged with emotion, Baena celebrated by pulling his shirt over his head, a gesture that briefly reflected the tension on the pitch and did not help his side with a yellow card.
Almería began with notable intensity, catching Villarreal off guard. Soon after, Unai Emery’s visitors opened the scoring when a magnificent run culminated in a powerful header by Chukwueze, with a crucial save from Pacheco preventing a bigger deficit.
Villarreal pressed high as the game continued, but Almería stayed resilient, testing Argentina’s Gero Rulli with a sharp effort from Lucas Robertone, despite missing the final pass that would have tied the score.
The two teams battled for supremacy on the field. Baena took the lead for the visitors, but Almería did not retreat. Early in the match, Eguaras and Melero combined to threaten, and a strong shot from Bilal Touré found its mark but was miraculously saved by Rulli.
The goal did not drain Villarreal of momentum. Instead, it energized Emery’s squad, who regained their footing and pressed with renewed purpose in the next ten minutes, creating chances and testing Almería’s resolve.
Right before halftime, Emery’s men came close again as Fernando Pacheco made another superb save to deny a powerful effort by Johan Mojica from close to the goal line.
The second half began with Baena causing problems as Villarreal moved the ball quickly and precisely. Almería showed fight, but Villarreal began to dictate the tempo and push for a second goal that would turn the game in their favor.
Baena played a pivotal role early in the second half, forcing Pacheco into action once more as Villarreal attacked with urgency. The home side pushed forward relentlessly, while Almería loyalists watched as their team attempted to defend a narrow lead.
In a pivotal moment, Baena found the net after a swift counterattack but celebrated in a way that drew a second yellow card from the referee, earning himself a red card. The dismissal shifted the match, turning it into a challenging uphill battle for Villarreal’s defense as Almería pressed for a second goal to seal the win.
Despite being a man down, Villarreal rallied, applying relentless pressure and carving out chances as the clock ticked toward the final whistle. Almería, holding their advantage, began to weather the storm while Villarreal looked for a breakthrough that would restore their advantage on the scoreboard.
The late stages saw Villarreal increasingly in control, yet the night appeared to tilt toward a draw as the balance of play tipped in Almería’s favor. Then Parejo threaded a precise pass to Jackson, who finished decisively to snatch a dramatic late victory for Villarreal and to honor a difficult week for the club.
Lineups featured Rulli, Mojica, Pau Torres, Albiol, Mandi, Baena, Parejo, Coquelin, Moreno, Chukwueze, and Morales for Villarreal, with Jackson coming on later. Almería lined up Pacheco, Akieme, Ely, Chumi, Kaiky, Pozo, Robertone, Eguaras, Melero, Baptistao, and El Bilal Touré, with several substitutions throughout the match.
Final results read 2 for Villarreal, 1 for Almería, with goals credited to Melero in the 31st minute, Baena in the 55th, and Jackson in stoppage time. The referee handled disciplinary actions as Baena received a red card after his second yellow and Morlanes was cautioned from the bench. The match drew 13,816 spectators to the Ciutat de Valencia stadium, with a moment of silence observed for Villarreal’s vice president José Manuel Llaneza, who had recently passed away.