Villarreal surged past Espanyol with a commanding 4-1 victory at the Estadio de la Cerámica on Monday, bringing them level on points with third-placed Atletico Madrid in La Liga.
The Yellow Submarine’s win was powered by goals from Georges Mikautadze, Nicolas Pepe, and Alberto Moleiro, with an own goal by Jose Salinas contributing to the tally. Espanyol’s late strike by Leandro Cabrera offered only a consolation for the visitors.
Atletico Madrid had stumbled on Sunday against Real Betis, presenting Villarreal with the opportunity to narrow the gap in the top four. Despite Villarreal matching Atletico on points at 45, the Rojiblancos maintain third due to a marginally superior goal difference. Villarreal, however, retain a game in hand, keeping the pressure on Diego Simeone’s side.
Espanyol, on the other hand, suffered their fourth consecutive defeat, leaving them four points behind fifth-placed Betis. The Catalan side still holds a precarious one-point advantage over Celta Vigo in the battle for UEFA Conference League qualification.
The match saw Mikautadze open the scoring in the 35th minute with a spectacular swiveling volley, following a knock-down from Tajon Buchanan. Villarreal doubled their lead just before halftime when Salinas inadvertently redirected Moleiro’s cross into his own net.
Early in the second half, Pepe extended Villarreal’s lead to 3-0 with a composed low strike after beating his marker on the edge of the box. Moleiro then added his name to the scoresheet in the 55th minute, curling a precise finish into the corner after a swift counterattack left him unmarked in the Espanyol penalty area.
Espanyol’s late header from Cabrera in the 88th minute reduced the deficit but failed to prevent a fifth consecutive La Liga defeat. Villarreal’s dominant performance not only boosts morale but also strengthens their claim for a top-three finish this season, setting up a tense run-in for the final stages of the campaign.
Manolo Gonzalez’s side now face a critical period in their season, needing results to secure European qualification, while Villarreal continue their push to close the gap on Atletico, showcasing the attacking flair that has defined their campaign.
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