I could just re-post my summary of last Sunday's match away to
Real Sociedad
. But like the team, we all have our duties. And so you shall hear the tale of
Villarreal
1-1
Osasuna
.
Lineups
:
Jaume Costa
entered the Villarreal starting XI at left back, while Rubén Cani effectively took Nilmar's place.
Borja Valero
moved up front to pair (nominally) with
Marco Ruben
. A bit of a surprise that Miguel Ángel Lotina opted for a lone frontman at home, but Borja has succeeded as a second striker.
Osasuna played Nino (ex-Tenerife) and Ibrahima (ex-Atlético Madrid) up front, with Raúl García (also ex-Atlético) returning to the lineup. Unfortunately for us.
First Half
:
The opening minutes were a bit cagey, but Villarreal generally started on the front foot. It was a more open match than we have come to expect under Lotina, and the chances started to reflect that on the half-hour.
Bruno Soriano's
cross struck the bar from a fortuitous deflection, but more clear-cut opportunities were soon to come.
First Villarreal unlocked the Osasuna defense with a sweeping move, ending up on Costa's boot down the left. Ruben met a dangerous cross ...
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