Villarreal officially made their mark on the La Liga standings with a commanding 5-2 victory over Leganés on December 22, 2024. This match was not just about the score; it also provided ample drama through controversial referee decisions, red cards, and several penalty kicks, with the match all but sealing Villarreal's place within the top five of the league.
The game started energetically, with Leganés taking the lead just six minutes in, thanks to a goal from Cisse. But Villarreal responded swiftly, leveling through Tierno Barri, who scored the equalizer at the 16-minute mark. Things heated up when Dani Raba was awarded a penalty at the 33rd minute, which he successfully converted to give Villarreal the lead at 2-1.
Leganés fought back through Tierno Barri again, who managed to score his second goal just before halftime, netting another penalty and sending the teams to the locker room tied at 2-2. But the drama didn't end there. The second half saw both teams' tempers flare, especially for Leganés, who faced two red cards during the match—first Oscar Rodriguez at the 58th minute and Jorge Saenz at the 77th minute, significantly weakening their squad.
Villarreal capitalized on Leganés' reduced numbers, as Tierno Barri continued to shine through with his impactful performances, scoring again and increasing Villarreal's lead to 3-2 by 65 minutes. Gerard Moreno then sealed the game for Villarreal with two additional goals late on, first at 90+2 minutes, and then shortly after when he converted another penalty with only seconds left.
Referee Munis Ruiz faced scrutiny throughout the match due to various contentious calls, including the red card incident involving Saenz. He later commented, "Show the whole sequence. This was a headbutt, right?" acknowledging the difficulties faced when officiation is viewed under scrutiny of VAR. His decisions were pivotal, especially when the VAR questioned the initial red card issued to Barri, which was later downgraded to yellow.
Another moment of public debate came when Villarreal was rewarded another penalty, leading to their fourth goal. Munis Ruiz reflected, "The contact was obvious, but they both struggle for the ball,” as he looked back over the play where Pau Cabanez fell just moments before the penalty was awarded.
This match underscored not just Villarreal's strength as they continue to battle for points but also highlighted several officiation dilemmas within the La Liga, igniting discussions among fans and pundits alike.
Currently, Villarreal sits comfortably within the top five of La Liga with 30 points, propelling them forward as strong contenders this season. Meanwhile, news surrounding the club continues, with Ukrainian goalkeeper Yaroslav Troitsky reportedly set to trial with Villarreal's youth team, showcasing the club's commitment to nurturing potential talent both locally and internationally as they seek to strengthen their roster for upcoming seasons.
