On 5 November, one of the matches of the 12th round of the Spanish football championship took place. Villarreal (Spain) and Athletic (Bilbao) met.
Spanish Championship, 12th round
Villarreal (Spain) - Athletic (Bilbao) - 2:3 (0:3)
Goals: Gerard Moreno (86), A. Serlot (87) - Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta (2), Nico Williams (22), Williams (30).
Warnings: Matteo Gabbia (19), Nico Williams (41), De Marcos (44), Albiol (72), A. Mandi (74), Kiko (76), Dani Garcia (89).
Villarreal vs Athletic: In a thrilling match between Villarreal and Athletic at the Estadio de la Ceramica, football fans witnessed an unforgettable return to La Liga. The La Liga match started with high intensity as both teams showcased their skills on the pitch. The 0-3 scoreline in favour of Athletic at half-time made fans question Villarreal's fate. However, Villarreal managed to fight back in the second half and ended up winning 2-3. The game started with Athletic making their intentions clear from the very first minutes. Two minutes later, I. Ruiz de Galarreta stunned the crowd by scoring a goal for Athletic. This goal set the tone for a tense match. In the 19th minute, Villarreal player M. Gabbia received a yellow card, showing the frustration of the team, which could not contain the opponent. Just three minutes later, N. Williams increased Athletic Club's lead with a goal that left the Villarreal defence desperate. The pressure on the hosts increased even more when in the 30th minute I. Williams put the ball in the net, bringing the score to a horrifying 0:3. The first half was not without drama as N. Williams and O. de Marcos quickly received yellow cards for Athletic.
At the beginning of the second half Villarreal made two substitutions, releasing C. Romero and A. Moreno to strengthen the attack. These substitutions breathed new life into the team and they began to relentlessly pursue the goal. Their efforts were rewarded in the 86th minute when G. Moreno headed the ball into the net, giving the home team a glimmer of hope. Not wanting to give up, Villarreal continued to go forward. In the 87th minute, A. Sorlot took his chance and scored a stunning goal, levelling the match - 2:3. The stadium exploded with joy as the fans cheered for their team's stunning victory. With only a few minutes remaining, tensions remained high on both sides. In the last minutes of the game, Athletic players received yellow cards: D. Garcia and I. Ruiz de Galarreta were warned by the referee. However, time ran out for Athletic and the final whistle sounded, signalling an amazing victory for Villarreal. This match demonstrated the unpredictability of football, where a team trailing by three goals at half-time can make an incredible comeback. Villarreal's fighting spirit and determination to turn the tide of the game is a testament to the players' resilience and unwavering belief. Both Villarreal and Athletic showed their skill and competitiveness, making the game exciting for the spectators. At the Estadio de la Ceramica stadium, a wonderful confrontation took place, leaving fans enthralled with a beautiful game of football.
In the next round of matches await the rivals: Atletico - Villarreal, Athletic - Celta.
| Villarreal | Athletic | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Kicks to the goal | 7 |
| 17 | Kicks | 17 |
| 4 | Blocked shots | 4 |
| 12 | Penalty kicks | 9 |
| 5 | Penalty kicks | 8 |
| 11 | Offences | 18 |
| 9 | Corners | 3 |
| 5 | Offsides | 5 |
| 58% | Ball possession | 42% |
| 4 | Yellow cards | 3 |
| 0 | Red cards | 0 |
| 4 | Keeper saves | 4 |
| 519 | Total assists | 381 |
| 447 | Accurate assists | 294 |
| 86% | Accuracy of passes | 77% |