Villarreal vs Valencia Highlights and Match Report

La Liga
8:00 PMFebruary 22, 2026
Common Season – 25
Estadio de la Ceramica
Referee: Jesus Gil Manzano, Spain


Villarreal


Valencia
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1.87
Anticipated objectives (xG)
1.55
Passing
286 (79%)
Correct passes
417 (86%)
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1
G
Luiz Júnior
23
D
Sergi Cardona
12
D
Renato Veiga
6
D
Pau Navarro
D
Santiago Mouriño
20
M
Alberto Moleiro
M
Pape Gueye
45+6′
M
Santi Comesaña (C)
31′
19
M
Nicolas Pépé
F
Georges Mikautadze
22
F
Ayoze Pérez

La Liga Standings – Primera División
Qualification/Relegation
- Promotion – Champions League (League part)
- Promotion – Europa League (League part)
- Promotion – Convention League (Qualification)
- Relegation – LaLiga2
Villarreal secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over regional rivals Valencia on the Estadio de la Ceramica. Pape Gueye’s essential penalty in first-half stoppage time proved decisive.
This La Liga conflict noticed third-placed Villarreal host a Valencia facet struggling in sixteenth. Villarreal aimed to cement their robust league place. Valencia fought to climb away from the relegation zone.
The sport started with each groups battling for midfield management. Tensions flared early as Villarreal’s G. Mikautadze obtained a yellow card within the twenty third minute.
Valencia then took the lead from the penalty spot simply 4 minutes later. Largie Ramazani transformed coolly within the twenty seventh minute, silencing the house crowd.
Villarreal responded swiftly, refusing to let Valencia settle. Santi Comesaña leveled the rating within the thirty first minute, guiding house an equalizer.
The half-hour mark noticed a flurry of bookings. Ramazani obtained a yellow for roughing, adopted by S. Mourino and J. Guerra for fouls.
Amidst this chaos, Villarreal earned one other penalty. Pape Gueye stepped up and drilled it house within the 45+sixth minute, sending the Yellow Submarine into the break with a 2-1 lead.
The dramatic finish to the primary half left Valencia needing to regroup. Villarreal, nonetheless, carried important momentum into the dressing room.
The second half commenced with Villarreal targeted on defending their benefit. Valencia pushed ahead, searching for an equalizer, however discovered Villarreal’s protection resolute.
Substitutions started after the hour mark as managers sought contemporary impetus. Pape Gueye, the match-winner, was changed by Thomas Partey within the 58th minute. Valencia’s U. Nunez obtained a yellow within the sixty fifth minute.
Regardless of a number of tactical modifications from either side, neither group managed to search out the again of the online once more. Villarreal absorbed strain; Valencia struggled to interrupt by way of.
Villarreal demonstrated effectivity, changing their possibilities with an anticipated objectives (xG) of 1.87 from 12 whole pictures. Valencia, regardless of 57% possession and an xG of 1.55, managed solely three pictures heading in the right direction from eight makes an attempt.
This difficult-fought victory strengthens Villarreal’s grip on third place in La Liga. For Valencia, the defeat retains them entrenched within the decrease half of the desk.

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