Villarreal, Spain, ESP — Villarreal delivered a commanding performance to dismantle Espanyol in Spanish LALIGA action at Estadio de la Cerámica, with four different goal scorers highlighting the hosts' attacking depth.
Georges Mikautadze broke the deadlock in the 35th minute, setting the tone for a dominant first-half display. The Yellow Submarine doubled their advantage six minutes later when Espanyol's José Salinas turned the ball into his own net under pressure. Nicolas Pépé extended the lead five minutes after the restart, and Alberto Moleiro added a fourth in the 55th minute to put the match beyond doubt. Leandro Cabrera's 88th-minute strike provided Espanyol a consolation goal but did little to change the narrative of a thoroughly one-sided contest.
Despite Espanyol edging possession 51% to 49%, Villarreal proved far more clinical in the final third. The hosts registered 10 shots to Espanyol's nine, with three on target compared to the visitors' two, demonstrating superior efficiency in converting opportunities.
GOALS:- 35' Georges Mikautadze - Villarreal- 41' José Salinas (OG) - Espanyol- 50' Nicolas Pépé - Villarreal- 55' Alberto Moleiro - Villarreal- 88' Leandro Cabrera - Espanyol
STANDOUT PLAYERS:- Villarreal: Mikautadze - Opened scoring, sparked first-half surge- Espanyol: Cabrera - Late goal, defensive effort
KEY STAT: Villarreal scored four goals from just three shots on target, showcasing clinical finishing with a conversion rate that overwhelmed Espanyol's defense.