Villarreal: Sergio Asenjo; Mario, Erik Bailly, Víctor Ruíz, Jaume Costa (Adrián Marín 77‘); Denis Suárez, Trigueros, Bruno, Samu Castillejo (Leo Baptistao 62‘); Soldado, Bakambu (Adrián López 82’). 4-4-2.
Sparta: Bicik; Brabec, Holek (Kovac 28‘), Costa; Konate, Matejovsky (Lafata 88‘), Marecek, Dockal, Frydek; Julis (Fatai 73‘), Krejci. 3-5-2.
Goals:
1-0. 03. Bakambu. Charged down Bicik clearance and deflected ball in to net.
1-1. 45. Brabec. Got between defence to head Dockal corner down past Asenjo.
2-1. 63. Bakambu. Picked up Denis Suárez centre and fired shot past keeper.
Villarreal won 2-1 in their first leg tie against Sparta Prague, although given the chances they missed the result was a bit short. Bakambu charged down a Bicik clearance to open the scoring in the third minute, but the keeper made up for his mistake with a string of saves after that, in particular from Soldado, Bakambu, Mario and Samu Castillejo. Krejci did get the ball in the net though only to be pulled up for offside, and Asenjo had to save from Konaté before Brabec found space in the box to head the equalizer from a Dockal corner with the first half well in to time added on. Villarreal’s onslaught continued after the break, Mario heading a corner against the bar, and a few minutes later Denis Suárez slipped the ball through for Bakambu to restore the lead. However Bicik made further stops from Soldado, Mario and Bakambu after that, and Marcelino’s side may yet regret that they couldn’t wrap things up before heading to Prague next week.