• Direct Narration and statistics

Karl Toko Ekambi left with destiny, perhaps definitive, to Lyon and the Villarreal attack was orphaned, limited to the effective leadership of Gerard Moreno and a Carlos Bacca whose memory excites more than his present expectation. Missing a piece and Javier Calleja the demand to meet their objectives in the second leg of the season. Many sound to fit the mold that covered the Cameroonian, but none yet. And, above, Gerard Moreno is injured. The message, then, was clear: "it's your turn, Bacca, take your chance."

And the Colombian, still dry in this League, took on the challenge and completed it successfully. His was the goal with which Villarreal went ahead in Mendizorroza, rough terrain where there is for any rival that approaches there. At 33, he lacks the spark and the explosiveness of yesteryear, but he retains the sense of smell he gives thanks to God, kneeling and arms to heaven, every time the network welcomes his shots and heeds his pleas as a devout striker.

Villarreal smiled like that, on track the victory at 10 minutes of the game, tasting the circulation of the ball favored by Anguissa's substitution in favor of a line of four creative midfielders (Trigueros, Cazorla, Moi Gómez and Chukwueze) ahead of Iborra . The set of Calleja liked each other, combining with ease until the Alavés got tired of being on the lookout.

Garitano's team boasts solvency in defense, but continues to accumulate many problems in the center of the field, difficulties that only external reinforcements can overcome. Enjoy the kickback, get returns to the direct game and suffer in other records. So when Villarreal agreed that the ball would change from time to time as an owner, it was difficult for Alavés to intimidate.

Final blow

Thus the first half was consumed, without much more history than a Trigueros volley after a Cazorla delicatessen and an Aleix Vidal satin, both well answered by Pacheco and Asenjo, two always undervalued porterazos. And after the break, more of the same, now frustrating the attempts of Manu García and Chukwueze. The match was for the goalkeepers for a long time until the strikers claimed it again.

Joselu did it first, combining with Lucas Pérez for the umpteenth time this season, to place the momentary draw on the scoreboard. And then the turn went to the striker of Villarreal. But not from Bacca, but from Fernando Niño . And who child? For the son of a former central of Mallorca at the beginning of the century, a 19-year-old boy, who took the alternative as a First player in Vitoria. Two minutes it took to shine a sensational pass from Trigueros. Oriented control, hard kick, goal and three points. Faced with the search for a striker, the fable of Bacca and Niño prevails in Villarreal.

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