It's becoming more and more clear, football is based on matches within matches. Villarreal did not fully dominate in any phase in the first half at La Cerámica this evening, but they took their chances and obliged Sevilla to change. The Nervionenses, unbeaten since their tip to Balaídos, accpeted the challenge and equalised twice through stunning goals from Escudero and Munir. Sevilla, in blue today, deserved to score a third and take all three points against a Villarreal side who ended up tiring quickly, but the match ended 2-2.
Sevilla came out as they usually do away from home. They had the ball and tried to take the game to Villarreal. They came close twice in the opening five minutes: an En-Nesyri cross was met by Koundé but his shot fizzed comfortably wide, and Koundé turned provider just minutes later but the Moroccan could not get on the end of his cross. Sevilla were not getting Villarreal any space, but the yellows needed just one chance to put themselves in front. Anguissa's chance from a cross was saved by Vaclík, but the rebound fell kindly for Alcácer who fired beyond the Czech international.
Villarreal had three first-half chances and scored two
It was a blow for Sevilla, who then focused their play down the right hand side in search of an equaliser but were lacking in the final pass. Ironically, their equaliser late on in the half came from the left hand side. Escudero came forward unchallenged and unleashed a powerful drive from outside the box, leaving Asenjo with no chance. The referee had initially signalled for one minute of added time, but, as the physios needed to check on Escudero, the added time was extended to four minutes. In the fourth minute of added time, Pau Torres headed home unmarked at the near post from a Cazorla corner that could well have been avoided. A hammer blow just before the interval.