Espanyol: Kiko Casilla; Javi López (Arbilla 77‘), Colotto, Eric Bailly, Fuentes; Lucas Vázquez, Víctor Sánchez, Cañas, Víctor Alvarez (Abraham 46‘); Sergio García, Caicedo (Stuani 60‘). 4-4-2.
Villarreal: Sergio Asenjo; Mario Gaspar, Gabriel (Dorado 46‘), Víctor Ruíz, Jaume Costa; Jonathan Dos Santos, Manu Trigueros, Bruno, Cheryshev (Tomás Pina 72’); Uche (Giovani 65’), Vietto. 4-4-2.
Goals:
0-1. 25. Mario. Picked up Cheryshev headed pass and turned shot past Casilla.
1-1. 90. Colotto. Steered shot past Asenjo after keeper saved Stuani’s header.
Yellow cards: Víctor Alvarez 16’, Manu Trigueros 36’, Cheryshev 43, Jaume Costa 51’, Bruno 51’, Stuani 83’, Sergio García 83’.
Villarreal are starting to feel the pressure after a good start to the season, and after a first defeat in the Europa League in Thursday, a 1-1 draw at Espanyol left Marcelino’s side six points off the European spots with only one point from their last three matches. The visitors did get off to a good start though, Mario latching on to Cheryshev’s headed pass to open the scoring, and then bringing a good save out of Casilla a few minutes later. Vietto also tested the local keeper later in the first half, Trigueros firing the rebound wide, and the home side didn’t manage a shot on goal until three minutes in to the second half, Asenjo dealing easily with a soft shot from Colotto. A few minutes later Fuentes saved the day however when he headed a shot from Vietto off the line, and with the game coming to an end Colotto levelled the scores, turning the ball in on the far post after Asenjo pushed out a header from Stuani.