Villarreal welcomed out-of-form Eibar to El Madrigal on Sunday looking to move within six points of the top four in La Liga.
The hosts had a number of chances in the first period, but could not make the breakthrough as the two sides entered the interval on level terms.
The Yellow Submarine eventually opened the scoring 20 minutes from time through Luciano Vietto and the Argentine's strike proved the difference between the two teams.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Evening all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage continues from El Madrigal as Villarreal welcome Eibar. Both sides have struggled for results in recent weeks, but the Yellow Submarine will enter this match as the firm favourites to claim all three points. Just a reminder that kickoff is at 6pm UK time.
Right, before anything else, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news.
TEAMS
VILLARREAL: Asenjo; Rukavina, Bailly, Dorado, Costa; Sergio, J.Dos Santos, Gomez; Campbell; Moreno, Giovani
EIBAR: Irureta; Boveda, Navas, Ekiza, Lillo; Capa, Anibarro, Garcia, Lara; Arruabarrena, Manu
So there we have it. The big news in the Villarreal XI is that young Ivorian Eric Bailly, who joined from Espanyol last month, makes his debut. Sergio Marcos also keeps his place in midfield, while there are also starts for Moi Gomez, Joel Campbell and Gerard Moreno in what is a much-changed team.
Eibar, meanwhile, will seemingly line up in a straight-forward 4-4-2 formation this evening. Manu del Moral and Mikel Arruabarrena both start in attack, while Ander Capa and Javi Lara will provide support from wide areas. Borja Fernandez and Didac Vila, however, are both only on the bench here.
Ejercicios del Eibar a menos de media hora del inicio del partido en El Madrigal. Aupa Eibar!! pic.twitter.com/kv0fNkFKZu
— SD Eibar (@sd_eibar) February 22, 2015
The reverse match earlier this season, which ended in a 1-1 draw, was the first time that Villarreal and Eibar had met in over 14 years. Incredibly, the pair have not met in this stadium since September 1999, when Eibar claimed all the points with a thumping 5-1 win. Of the last three matches, Eibar have won twice and remained unbeaten. Can Villarreal end that disappointing run of results tonight?
Villarreal went on an 18-match unbeaten run in all competitions earlier in the season, but that run ended earlier this month when they lost 3-2 at Barcelona in the league. Since then, they have also lost to Barca in the Copa del Rey and were beaten 2-0 at Rayo Vallecano in the league last time out. As a result, they remain sixth in the table, but are now nine points off fourth, which Valencia occupy.
The Yellow Submarine have lost three times at home in the league, but have put eight wins on the board at El Madrigal. They have also conceded just nine times at home this season, which will give them confidence ahead of this match. Marcelino's side have also impressed on their travels – losing just three of their 12 matches and collecting 17 points in the process. It has been a very good season thus far.
Eibar, meanwhile, started the season in spectacular fashion and offered the impression that they could defy the odds and finish in the top half this campaign. However, the wheels have well and truly fallen off in recent weeks. They have lost each of their last four in the league – scoring just once in the process. Last time out, they suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat at home to fellow strugglers Elche.
Eibar are not particularly in trouble in terms of their league position, however, with 27 points leaving them in 11th position in the table. Their away form this term has also been pretty strong with four wins from their 12 matches – collecting 15 points in the process. That said, they have not won on the road in the league since beating Espanyol 2-1 at the start of January. The atmosphere is building here...
PREDICTION! In truth, I am finding it really difficult to look past Villarreal in this one. Eibar are horribly out of form at the moment and have been struggling to score goals. It might be tight for the first half or so, but Villarreal have such a strong bench. My score prediction is 2-0 to the hosts.
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the first period. Not a full house at El Madrigal - but there is still a good atmosphere as the away side get the first half underway.
Villarreal boss Marcelino selected a strong team for Thursday's 2-1 win over Salzburg in the Europa League, but this is a somewhat under-strength XI. Will it have enough to beat Eibar? Marcelino certainly hopes so. As expected, the home side have taken control of the possession in the early moments.
Not too much to report in terms of chances in the opening four minutes, but the home side have been in control of the ball, which is not much of a surprise. Can Eibar repel the early pressure here?
Almost a nervy moment in the Eibar defence, but goalkeeper Irureta just manages to gather ahead of Giovani, who had threatened to poke the ball past the Spaniard. Eibar respond with a period of possession down the other end, but Lillo cannot evade the challenge of Rukavina down the right.
Half-chance for Eibar as Lillo tries his luck from distance, but his effort was always straight into the arms of the Villarreal goalkeeper. It has been a decent last couple of minutes for the visitors here.
Half-chance for the home side this time as Campbell combines with Giovani outside the box, but his effort hit the ground before rolling behind for a goal kick. Not great from the Costa Rican there.
Villarreal's bright spell continues as Rukavina delivers a super cross towards Moi Gomez, who goes down inside the box, but the referee is not interested. The crowd have responded to the increase in tempo, but the score is still goalless with 10 minutes on the clock. So far, so good for Eibar.
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Villarreal to take the lead as Campbell places an excellent cross towards the far post, but Gomez's effort just moves wide of the goal. Villarreal have started to threaten in the final third, with Campbell and Giovani enjoying possession in advanced areas.
CHANCE! Another chance for the home side as Moreno finds a pocket of space inside the box before firing towards goal, but Irureta manages to make the save. All Villarreal at the moment.
Still goalless with 16 minutes on the clock, but Villarreal have looked the most likely and they remain the team on the front foot. You just get the feeling that the first goal could be just vital here.
CHANCE! Another golden chance for the home side as Campbell finds space down the right before delivering a super cross towards Moreno, but the forward fires over the crossbar from close range. Good grief that is some miss from the Spaniard! Eibar are really, really rocking at the moment.
Campbell has been a little disappointing since joining Villarreal on loan from Arsenal last month, but the Costa Rican is having a very good game here. The winger remains the main outlet for his side, who continue to force the issue. Eibar have had very little in the final third in the opening 20 minutes.
CHANCE! Yet another excellent chance for the home side as Rukavina chips a cross onto the head of Gomez, but the Spaniard's effort is straight at Irureta. How on earth is this game still goalless?
Villarreal could and probably should be at least three goals ahead here. Gomez has another half-chance for Villarreal, but his effort from outside the box was always just curling wide of Irueta's post.
It is almost embarrassing how one-sided this match has been, but the only statistic that matters sees the score still level at 0-0. Wouldn't it be just like football if Eibar scored the first goal here?
Half-chance for the away side as Manu del Moral shifts the ball past two defenders before driving a low cross into the box, but Asenjo is on hand to claim ahead of Capa, who had ventured into the box. Villarreal are down the other end moments later, however, and force a corner through Moreno.
Another half-chance for the home side as Giovani delivers a cross towards Moreno, but the striker can only divert his header into the arms of the goalkeeper. Moreno has been heavily involved thus far.
Little over 10 minutes of the first period remaining and it is a case of so far, so good for Eibar, who have had little in the final third, but been able to repel a lot of pressure down the other end.
Capa and Boveda combine down the right for the visitors, but the move breaks down when Bailly, who has been very good this evening, steps across to clear the danger. The tempo has just dropped from the home side in the last couple of minutes, with Eibar now enjoying their best spell of possession.
Half-chance for Eibar this time as Garcia capitalises on a loose touch from Marcos, but his low effort was always moving wide of the post. Campbell, meanwhile, appears to have a problem for the hosts.
Better from Villarreal in the last couple of minutes as Giovani delivers a super corner into a dangerous area, but Eibar just manage to clear their lines. The pressure continues outside the box, but Campbell's left-footed cross is eventually cleared by Boveda. Still goalless with 40 minutes on the clock.
Not too much to report in terms of chances in the last couple of minutes, while the atmosphere has dropped inside the stadium following a good spell of Eibar possession. No real spark at the moment.
Jonathan dos Santos takes matters into his own hands for the home side as he wins possession in midfield before driving to the edge of the box, but the midfielder's final ball is just too strong.
HALF-TIME: Villarreal 0-0 Eibar
The referee brings the first period to a close with the two sides level at 0-0. Villarreal have utterly dominated the match in terms of chances created, but have thus far been unable to put the ball in the back of the net. It is a case of so far, so good for Eibar, but there is still a lot of football to be played.
STATS! The home side have had 66% possession, while they hit the target with three of their 12 attempts. Eibar, meanwhile, registered just one shot on target in the first period. Surprisingly, there has not a single card issued in the first half, but challenges of any note have been scarce.
BENCH WATCH! Villarreal have a very, very strong bench this evening, with the likes of Cheryshev, Vietto, Uche and Trigueros all in reserve for Marcelino. I suspect we could be seeing a couple of those sooner rather than later. Eibar, meanwhile, have options in the shape of Angel, Errasti and Lekic.
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the second period. Will we have a goal at El Madrigal? Let's hope so! It is the home side that get the second 45 minutes underway here.
No changes from either manager at the break, which is not too much of a surprise I suppose. However, I suspect that alterations will occur if the score remains goalless for the next 20 minutes or so.
As expected, it has been a bright start to the second period from Villarreal. I suspect that there were some harsh words exchanged in the dressing room at the interval. You just get the feeling that the first goal - if there indeed is one - could be vital. Can Eibar find a way to threaten in the final third?
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for the home side as Moreno robs Ekiza before finding Giovani, but the Mexican's effort is just deflected behind for a corner. Another chance comes and goes here.
Decent spell for Eibar in the last couple of moments, with the visitors forcing a corner following some nervous work from Bailly, but Asenjo is on hand to collect. Still no goals at El Madrigal tonight.
Half-chance for the home side this time as Campbell drives down the right before attempting to deliver a cross, but the Eibar goalkeeper is across to make the block. Sergio attempts to clip a pass into Costa moments later, but the ball has too much weight. Eibar keep their clean sheet in tact, for now.
CHANCE! Another chance for Villarreal as Costa drives down the left before finding Campbell outside the box, but the Costa Rican's effort is high and wide. Poor from the attacker there.
Little over 30 minutes of football remaining and the score is still 0-0. Surely Marcelino will be considering changes for the home side - he has such talent on the bench. Eibar are not offering too much in the final third, but they must be praised for their work-rate in defensive areas tonight.
The pressure is building from Villarreal, but Eibar are starting to threaten on the counter attack, with Lara delivering a couple of dangerous crosses from wide areas. It is so finely balanced here!
Villarreal will see this as a big chance missed if they cannot claim all three points. Especially after Sevilla lost at Real Sociedad earlier this afternoon. Still a lot of football to be played at El Madrigal, though.
Half-chance for the home side as Giovani chips an excellent cross towards the far post, but there are no takers and Eibar manage to clear once again. Still no movement on the Villarreal bench here.
Giovani looks the most likely for Villarreal and the Mexican has another shot on goal after driving past two defenders, but it is comfortable for the Eibar goalkeeper. Still goalless at El Madrigal.
Another half-chance for the home side as Rukavina sets up Moreno with an excellent cross, but the striker's flicked header is wide of the post. Villarreal are preparing to make their first change...
... SUB! It is an enforced change as Musacchio replaces the injured Bailly.
Vietto and Cheryshev will soon join us for Villarreal. Finally a bit of quality.
Eibar have offered very little in the final third, but as it stands, they will secure a point for El Madrigal. However, you just get the feeling that there is at least one goal in this match tonight.
SUBS! Villarreal make a double change as Vietto and Cheryshev replace Moreno and Campbell.
GOAL! Villarreal 1-0 Eibar (Vietto)
Oh no, it is a horror moment for Irureta in the Eibar goal. Vietto collects a pass from Giovani before firing one towards goal, but it is straight at the goalkeeper, who lets it slip under his body.
SUB! Eibar respond with a change as Lekic replaces Manu del Moral.
There is still time for Eibar to respond in this one, but they have really struggled to create chances tonight. Villarreal certainly deserve their lead despite the unfortunate nature of the goal.
The goal from Villarreal appears to have woken Eibar as they force two corners in quick succession, but the home side manage to clear the danger. Little under 15 minutes of football remaining here.
SAVE! Stunning save from Irureta in the Eibar goal as he denies Gomez, who had curled one towards the top corner. That is more like it from the goalkeeper - excellent work there.
Just a reminder that following this match we will have live coverage of Elche against Real Madrid - be sure to remain with me for that one, with coverage due to get underway at around 7.52pm.
SUB! Eibar make their second change as Nieto replaces Ekiza.
Not too much to report in terms of chances in the last few minutes - Eibar have improved since conceding, but Villarreal have been fairly comfortable in defensive areas. Still 1-0 to the hosts.
Little over five minutes of football remaining and still Eibar trail. In truth, they have really struggled to create chances this evening and it is difficult to see them snatching a late point here. Villarreal are threatening in the final third, but another low cross from Gomez is collected by Irureta.
SUB! Eibar make their final change as Lillo is replaced by Didac.
Villarreal will remain sixth with a win here, but they would be just six points off the top four and just one point behind fifth-place Sevilla. It has not been pretty, but it could be absolutely crucial.
BOOKING! Costa (Villarreal) is booked for a rash challenge on Garcia.
The fourth official indicates that we will play an additional three minutes. Capa has a half-chance for Eibar outside the box, but his effort was always moving wide of the post.
Villarreal are almost there. It is going to be a fifth straight league defeat for Eibar, who are dangerously out of form at a vital stage. However, they are still eight points clear of the drop zone.
Just a reminder that next up is Elche against Real Madrid!
FULL-TIME: Villarreal 1-0 Eibar
So there we have it. It was not great from Villarreal, but it was just about good enough. Vietto's second-half strike secures all three points for the hosts. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action!
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
