News
THU 28.04.2016
Villarreal, who had only failed to score in one of their last 31 Europa League appearances, were bright and lively against a Liverpool side determined to match them when it came to quick passing and possession in the opening exchanges at El Madrigal.
Liverpool’s Joe Allen had a good chance after only five minutes but his effort was straight at Sergio Asenjo, and down the other end, Villarreal soon responded. A quickly-taken freekick found Roberto Soldado but the former Tottenham Hotspur striker pulled his shot across the face of goal.
Denis Suarez and Bruno Soriano were pulling the strings in midfield for the Yellow Submarine, and the captain helped set up another opening just before the break. His ball to Soldado created a half-chance but the number nine’s snap-shot curled just wide of the post.
Soon after halftime, Jonathan Dos Santos’s corner to near post found Cedric Bakambu who thumped a header against the Liverpool upright. But the Reds matched that midway through the second half when Roberto Fermino’s low drive was palmed onto the post by Asenjo.
A swift exchange of blows near the end saw Bakambu denied by a great one-handed save from Simon Mignolet, and immediately afterwards Alberto Moreno streaked away on a counter but blazed his effort high and wide. The hosts grabbed the lead in the tie in added time. Suarez burst away on the counter-attack and as he surged into the area he squared the ball to the far post where substitute Adrian Lopez stroked the ball into the empty net. It was a seventh straight home win in the Europa League with a clean sheet for Marcelino's men.
The second leg is at Anfield on Thursday May 5.
© LALIGA - 2016