by Villarreal enters the next round as group leader and the most important, He once again commands respect in Europe.. The group stage of the ‘groguets’, which at times generated more doubts than certainties, ended with a well-deserved victory in the fiefdom of Rennes, until then group leader, in which for the first time so far this season they appealed to pride in overcoming two blows that at times seemed deadly.
The first half hour of the meeting translated into the most absolute nothing in terms of occasions. It was enough for Rennes to draw to avoid the ‘bogeymen’ from the Champions League, while Villarreal seemed excessively passive despite the urgencies. He showed his teeth in a couple of good finishes, but he lacked success when it came to finishing them.
The long-awaited goal was celebrated by Villarreal in their first shot between the three sticks, and was born from a play without apparent danger. Belocain stepped on Baena in an action that, Despite being flagged as a foul in the first instance, it occurred in the area. The VAR rectified Karaoglan, and Gerard Moreno did not forgive from the eleven meters.
The one from Santa Perpètua dedicated the goal to his family with his characteristic celebration, gesture that the Roazhon Park stands misinterpreted as a provocation. Also the referee, who admonished the striker despite celebrating while looking at the camera.
The joy of the ‘groguets’ barely took 10 seconds to evaporate. As soon as he took the cross, Le Fee found Assignon with a through ball. If the delivery was already excellent, the French full-back gave it added value after cutting out Altimira and beating Pepe Reina with a shot that slipped between his legs. The tie once again prevailed in the electronic.
If the blow was already hard enough, Villarreal received a new blow before the break. Baena and Assignon, who were already coming back from a previous action in which the Frenchman released his arm to hit the Andalusian, collided again in an action that could have been interpreted as a penalty, but Karaoglan ended up with a foul in favor of Rennes.
Exchange of blows
Far from being frustrated by this controversial action, Villarreal took advantage of the time in the locker room to calm their nerves. They started the second half better than the first, believing in their chances of adding the valuable three points, and the well-deserved prize was not long in coming. Taking advantage of a magnificent filtered pass from Gerard Moreno, Ilias rode down the right, faced Theate and armed the leg to return the advantage to the ‘groguets’.
After the goal came the best minutes for Marcelino’s pupils. Villarreal dominated with solvency and even came close to achieving peace but, whims of football, the next blow was dealt by Rennes. When the French were suffering the most, Blas found himself with a ball on the balcony of the area that, after lightly touching Albiol, ended up kissing the net.
Emulating his rival in the first half, Villarreal did not need more than a minute to disable the effect of the goal against. Parejo and Baena threw a wall in the opposite area that the Madrid native translated into the winning goal. The outcome could have taken on dramatic overtones at the horn, as Rennes even celebrated the tying goal.
In the last minute of an eternal addition due to the spectacular blow to the head that Gabbia received, Assignon managed to catch a rebound in the area to return the lead to the French.. The action, however, was annulled because it was born from Le Fee’s second touch after taking a free kick, something that the regulations do not allow.
