Villarreal: Diego López; Angel, Gonzalo,
Marchena, Capdevila; Cazorla, Bruno, Borja Valero, Cani (Jefferson Montero
34'); Rossi (Matilla 75'), Altidore (Marco Ruben 85'). 4-4-2.
Brugge: De Vlieger (Coosemans 60'); Camozzato, Hoefkens,
Donk, Junior Díaz; Ofoe (Dirar 76'), Simaeys; Geraerts, Vargas, Blondel
(Van Gijseghem 85'); Perisic. 4-2-3-1.
Goals:
1-0. 40. Rossi. Got on the end of Capdevila cross to
slide shot past De Vlieger.
1-1. 46. Donk. Dinked the ball in to the net
following wide Blondel free kick.
2-1. 56. Gonzalo. Got above marker to
head Jefferson's cross back past keeper.
Villarreal picked up their first points in their mini-league after beating Club Brugge 2-1 in their second group match. Altidore was given a rare start up front, but he missed two or three easy chances early on. The Belgian side replied with aggression rather than style, and midway through the first half Vargas was sent off after catching Cani in the face with his elbow. And worse was to come for Cani, the midfielder stretchered off a few minutes later with a bloody injury to the shin after a crunching tackle from Blondel, who was only booked by the Russian referee.
With five minutes to go to the break though Rossi put the Spaniards ahead after connecting with a cross from Capdevila. The lead only lasted a few minutes however, Donk equalising on the stroke of half time after the defence failed to clear Blondel's free kick. But Villarreal bounced back after the restart, Jefferson Montero combining with Marchena before swinging in a cross which Gonzalo headed in to the net. Rossi and Marchena both went close after that, but the three points were already in the bag, and the Yellow Submarine has set sail in Europe at last.