Villarreal welcomed Espanyol to El Madrigal in La Liga on Thursday looking to end a run of five games without a win in all competitions.
It was the visitors that opened the scoring, however, with Felipe Caicedo bundling home from close range after 24 minutes.
Villarreal improved in the second period, but Caicedo scored a second 20 minutes from time, before Victor Sanchez made it 3-0 after 79 minutes.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Evening all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage continues from El Madrigal as Villarreal welcome Espanyol. Neither side is in particularly good form at the moment, but Villarreal will enter as the favourites to solidify their spot in sixth position. Let's hope for a cracker in this one.
Villarreal are without a win in their last five games in all competitions, with that run of form seeing them exit the Europa League and drop out of the race for the top four. The Yellow Submarine did pick up a point at Valencia on Sunday, but they are currently 12 points off the top four, which is surely too big a gap. Malaga, meanwhile, are six points behind Marcelino's team in seventh position.
Espanyol, meanwhile, will enter the match off the back of a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Elche last time out. The Catalan side have drawn their last three in the league and have not picked up all three points since beating Cordoba at the end of February. That run of form has seen them drop into 12th position, but they are 10 points clear of the relegation zone as it stands.
Incredibly, Villarreal are unbeaten in 12 league meetings with Espanyol, with their last loss against the Catalan side occurring back in 2008. Espanyol have also only won on one of their 14 top-flight visits to El Madrigal – a 1-0 victory in 2004. The omens are good for the home side tonight. Right, team news...
TEAMS:
VILLARREAL: Asenjo; Mario, Musacchio, Ruiz, Costa; Jonathan, Pina, Manu, Campbell; Giovani, Vietto
ESPANYOL: Casilla; Arbilla, Alvaro, Moreno, Duarte; Lopez, Sanchez, Lucas, Alvarez; Garcia, Caicedo
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the first period. It must be said that there is a wonderful atmosphere inside El Madrigal as the visitors get the first 45 minutes underway.
Neither of these two teams are in particularly good form, but this still has the makings of an entertaining game. It has been a fairly low-key start, with Espanyol enjoying the early possession.
Not too much to report in terms of attacking football in the opening four minutes, but Villarreal have just started to enjoy more of the ball. You just get the feeling that the first goal - if there indeed is one - could be vital in this type of game. There is a good atmosphere inside the ground tonight.
Both managers are on the touchline at the moment and both will be demanding more from their teams in the early stages here. The overall quality in possession has not been too good thus far.
Well, to be honest, the opening eight minutes have been pretty poor! Hardly anything has happened in terms of chances, or indeed tackles. Both sides keep losing possession past the half-way line.
CHANCE! Excellent chance for Espanyol to make the breakthrough as Garcia meets a high ball inside the box, but his volley was always moving high of the crossbar. Best opportunity thus far.
Villarreal are having some joy in wide areas at the moment, but Campbell's final ball has been disappointing. We have not seen too much from the home side's leading scorer Vietto thus far.
Half-chance for Espanyol as Caicedo sets up Vasquez just outside the Villarreal box, but his effort is deflected into the arms of Asenjo, who has been the busier goalkeeper in the opening 14 minutes.
Neither team is really in control of the midfield battle at the moment and until that happens, one side will not really dominate. It has been an even 16 minutes, but Espanyol have had the best chance.
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for the home side as Alvarez meets a deep cross from Garcia, but his header is saved by Asenjo, who did brilliantly to make up the ground. Unlucky!
Espanyol have had the two best chances of the game thus far, but Villarreal are arguably playing the better football in the final third of the field. Pina advances into the Espanyol box before meeting a deep cross from Mario, but Moreno is on hand to clear the danger. Still goalless at El Madrigal here.
The opening 15 minutes of this match were quite dull, but it has picked up in the last eight minutes or so, with both teams committing more players in the final third. We just need the opening goal now.
Espanyol force a free kick in a good position as Jonathan brings Garcia to the ground...
... GOAL! Villarreal 0-1 Espanyol (Caicedo)
Breakthrough Espanyol! The visitors take the lead with 24 minutes on the clock as Caicedo bundles home at the far post after Asenjo could only flap at a free kick from Lucas. It is one of the most untidy goals that you will ever see as the ball rebounded off Caicedo and in, but they all count!
Villarreal will be looking for a quick response here, but it just isn't happening for the hosts.
It has been a decent response from Villarreal in terms of pressure, but they are struggling to find that elusive pass at the moment as Moreno comes across to challenge Vietto. More frustration there!
Alvaro seems to have a problem for the visitors here as he clashes with his own goalkeeper. It does not look too good for the centre-back and the referee has indeed called for a stretcher!
Alvaro is being stretched off the field and Espanyol will be forced into a change here.
Alvaro has actually returned to the field? Good grief. That is some recovery!
The fact that I am discussing Alvaro so in-depth is an indication that not too much is happening on the field. Villarreal just cannot seem to get anything going in terms of attacking play at the moment.
BOOKING! That man Alvaro (Espanyol) is booked for fouling Vietto.
BOOKING! Pina (Villarreal) is booked for fouling Sanchez.
Espanyol continue to look dangerous from set pieces, but Villarreal have managed to survive the last couple. Vietto attempts to break down the other end, but the striker is easily pushed off the ball.
Villarreal have just started to create a couple of half-chances and exert an extended period of pressure, but Espanyol are defending very well at the moment and are quite comfortable. You just get the feeling that the next goal - if there indeed is one - will be absolutely crucial at El Madrigal.
Espanyol gain yet another free kick in a good position, but this time Pina is on hand to clear. The pressure continues as Vasquez finds space in a wide area, but Musacchio is across to mop up.
Another half-chance for the away side as Lucas finds space in a wide area before curling one towards the top corner, but his effort is just deflected high of the crossbar. Asenjo was very worried there!
We are into the first and only minute of added time here.
HALF-TIME: Villarreal 0-1 Espanyol
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Espanyol leading 1-0 courtesy of a very scrappy goal from Caicedo. The lead is deserved though, with Villarreal really struggling to create clear opportunities. As it stands, it will be six games without a win in all comps for Villarreal.
STATS! Villarreal have shaded the possession with 56%, but they have not managed a single attempt on goal thus far, which is quite incredible. Espanyol, on the other hand, have had nine attempts - two of which have been on target. There have also been two first-half bookings here.
BENCH WATCH! Villarreal boss Marcelino has both Uche and Moreno on his bench this evening and it would not be a surprise to see the pair at some point tonight, especially if their struggles continue. Espanyol, meanwhile, have options in the shape of Gonzalez, Montanes and Christian Stuani.
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the second period. Can Villarreal find a route back into this match here? It is the home side that get the second 45 minutes underway.
No changes from either side at the interval, which is not too much of a surprise. However, I suspect that alterations will occur if the score remains 1-0 Espanyol for the next 15 or 20 minutes here.
SAVE! Villarreal come close to levelling as Manu Trigueros meets a super cross from Vietto, but his header is somehow kept out by Casilla. Wonderful goalkeeping from the Spaniard!
There is certainly more intent about Villarreal in the early stages of this second period, with Musacchio heading just wide of the post as the pressure continues. Can Espanyol resist the traffic here?
Villarreal again threaten in a wide area as Campbell breaks past two defenders before sliding a pass into Giovani, but the Mexican was just in an offside position. Espanyol break down the other end moments later as Garcia finds Alvarez, but the move breaks down. End-to-end football here!
There is still plenty of time for Villarreal to turn this one around, but the frustration in the stands is growing. The club have had some poor results recently and this would be another real blow.
Garcia wants a penalty as he goes down inside the Villarreal box under a challenge from Musacchio, but the referee is not interested and play continues. It is so delicately poised with 55 minutes played.
Good spell of pressure from Espanyol in the last couple of moments, but Garcia cannot find Caicedo with a low cross and Villarreal manage to clear. We are entering the stage of the match where both managers will be considering changes. I would be surprised if we had seen the last of the goals here.
SUBS! Villarreal make a double change as Marcos and Moreno replace Vietto and Pina.
CHANCE! Excellent chance for the home side as Giovani sets up Moreno inside the Espanyol box, but Arbilla is across to make a stunning challenge when the striker was about to pull the trigger!
It is a good spell for Villarreal at the moment as they continue to probe in the final third, but Espanyol are dangerous on the counter attack and a second for the visitors could be decisive at this stage.
CHANCE! Another chance for Villarreal as Manu Trigueros reacts first to a loose ball inside the box, but his effort is straight at Casilla, who palmed away the initial free kick from Giovani.
SUB! Espanyol make their first change as Canas replaces Lopez.
SUB! Villarreal make their third change as Alfonso replaces Jonathan.
Villarreal are in complete control of the possession at the moment, but they just cannot make it count in the final third. When they have had chances, Casilla has been in excellent form the visitors.
GOAL! Villarreal 0-2 Espanyol (Caicedo)
Oh my word! Espanyol score their second of the game and again it is Caicedo that finds the back of the net. The striker turns Musacchio on the edge of the box before firing one into the bottom corner. I am not sure about the goalkeeping there though, with Asenjo getting beat at his near post!
Villarreal's five-game winless run looks to be continuing here as Espanyol remain in control with little under 20 minutes of football remaining. It would be a really poor result from the home side's point of view.
Having seen another replay of Caicedo's goal, it is not great from Asenjo. The Spanish goalkeeper has had a wonderful season, but he should not have beaten at his near post from that sort of angle.
Villarreal are still flooding forward, but it is the same old story as Espanyol deal with the threat time and time again. Little over 15 minutes of football remaining and the visitors have a two-goal lead.
SUB! Espanyol make their second change as Stuani replaces two-goal Caicedo.
Little over 10 minutes of football remaining and in truth, not too much is happening at the moment. Espanyol have had a nice solid period of possession and that is taking more life from Villarreal.
GOAL! Villarreal 0-3 Espanyol (Sanchez)
Espanyol have their third goal of the match as Sanchez converts from close range following a super low cross from Alvarez. Again, some suspect goalkeeping from Asenjo. What a turn-up here!
I don't think anyone could have predicted 3-0 Espanyol in this game. If you did, well played!
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for the home side as Manu Trigueros meets a deep cross from Moreno, but his effort flies over the crossbar. He has had some chances tonight, wow!
SUB! Espanyol make their third change as Sanchez is replaced by Abraham.
Little over five minutes of football remaining at El Madrigal and a large number of the home supporters have already departed. It has been a poor night for Villarreal, that is for certain.
Espanyol will move into ninth position when this win is officially confirmed, while Villarreal will remain sixth, but Malaga are now closing on the Yellow Submarine. Espanyol force another corner following good work from Lucas, but Musacchio is on hand to head clear. Not long left in this one.
Sergio Garcia has once again been outstanding for the visitors and he is still chasing balls down in the final minute here. I should not think that there will be too much in the way of additional time.
The fourth official indicates that we will play an additional three minutes.
Villarreal continue to deliver long balls forward, but Espanyol are comfortable here.
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for the home side to add a late consolation as Musacchio meets a header from Gerard, but his effort is wide of the post. That just about sums up their night.
FULL-TIME: Villarreal 0-3 Espanyol
So there we have it. The referee brings the match to a close with Espanyol running out 3-0 winners at Villarreal. It is now six games in all competitions without a win for the Yellow Submarine, who are struggling for form at the moment. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action. Good evening!
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
