Villarreal vs Espanyol Highlights and Targets
La Liga
8:00 PMFebruary 9, 2026
Common Season – 23
Estadio de la Ceramica
Referee: Adrian Cordero Vega, Spain
Villarreal
Espanyol
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0.76
Anticipated targets (xG)
0.42
-2.00
Targets Prevented
-2.00
Passing
376 (89%)
Correct passes
366 (86%)
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13
G
Marko Dmitrović
D
Jose Salinas
6′ Holding41′
D
Leandro Cabrera (C)
88′
5
D
Fernando Calero
23
D
Omar El Hilali
10
M
Pol Lozano
4
M
Urko González
24
M
Tyrhys Dolan
M
Edu Expósito
53′ Holding
11
M
Pere Milla
9
F
Roberto Fernández
La Liga Standings – Primera División
Qualification/Relegation
- Promotion – Champions League (League part)
- Promotion – Europa League (League part)
- Promotion – Convention League (Qualification)
- Relegation – LaLiga2
Villarreal delivered a dominant efficiency on the Estadio de la Ceramica, securing a complete 4-1 victory over Espanyol in La Liga.
Targets from Georges Mikautadze, Nicolas Pépé, and Alberto Moleiro highlighted the Yellow Submarine’s attacking prowess and scientific ending. Coming into the fixture, Villarreal aimed to solidify their top-four aspirations, driving a wave of latest spectacular performances. Espanyol, regardless of their commendable sixth-place standing, arrived with a shaky ‘LLLDL’ kind, determined to reverse their fortunes on the highway.
The match started with early depth. Espanyol thought that they had taken the lead within the twelfth minute by means of Oumar El Hilali. Nonetheless, VAR intervened, disallowing the aim for an infringement and holding the rating stage. Villarreal then began to claim their management over the midfield. Their persistence paid off within the thirty fifth minute when Georges Mikautadze drilled dwelling the opener, following a exact help from Tajon Buchanan.
The Yellow Submarine prolonged their lead simply earlier than half-time. A stroke of misfortune for Espanyol noticed defender Javi Salinas divert the ball into his personal web within the forty first minute, doubling Villarreal’s benefit. Regardless of Espanyol’s slight ball possession, Villarreal’s attacking effectivity was plain. They headed into the break with a commanding 2-0 lead. Espanyol confronted a tricky process, needing a robust second-half response.
Villarreal wasted no time within the second half, swiftly extinguishing any hopes of an Espanyol comeback. Simply 5 minutes after the restart, Nicolas Pépé discovered the online within the fiftieth minute, expertly ending a transfer initiated by the energetic Alberto Moleiro. The hosts continued their relentless assault, piling on the strain. 5 minutes later, Moleiro himself obtained on the scoresheet, slotting dwelling within the fifty fifth minute with Mikautadze turning supplier, sealing a dominant four-goal lead.
Espanyol’s supervisor reacted with a number of substitutions across the hour mark, introducing Cyril Ngonge. Defender Leandro Cabrera finally managed a late comfort for Espanyol within the 88th minute, heading in from a Ngonge help. Villarreal’s scientific edge was plain. Three pictures heading in the right direction led to a few targets, surpassing their 0.76 Anticipated Targets (xG). Espanyol’s 0.42 xG and two pictures heading in the right direction highlighted their battle. Nicolas Pépé earned a 9.0 score for his impactful efficiency.
This emphatic victory strengthens Villarreal’s grip on a European qualification spot in La Liga. For Espanyol, the consequence extends their poor run of kind, demanding fast tactical changes and improved performances in upcoming fixtures.
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