Villarreal: Sergio Asenjo; Rukavina, Musacchio, Dorado, Jaume Costa; Joel Campbell (Mario Gaspar 72‘), Tomás Pina, Sergio Marcos, Moi Gómez (Cheryshev 61‘); Giovani (Vietto 46‘), Gerard Moreno. 4-4-2.
Celta: Sergio Alvarez; Hugo Mallo (Bongonda 71‘), Sergi Gómez (Alex López 46’), Cabral, Fontàs, Jonny Castro; Orellana, Radoja, Augusto Fernández, Nolito; Charles (Larrivey 82‘). 5-4-1.
Goals:
1-0. 41. Giovani. Collected Moreno pass in midfield and ran on to beat keeper.
2-0. 45. Musacchio. Steered header inside far post from Moi Gómez corner.
2-1. 50. Augusto Fernández. Got in front of defence to head in Nolito free kick.
3-1. 73. Vietto. Pulled down Pina pass and poked angled shot under keeper.
4-1. 84. Gerard Moreno. Picked up Pina pass and fired shot under Sergio.
Yellow cards: Nolito 75’, Fontàs 77’.
Villarreal bounced back from their midweek cup defeat against Barcelona, a 4-1 win against Celta keeping them just a point behind Sevilla in sixth spot. Honours were even for most of the first half, Gerard Moreno bringing an early save out of Sergio Alvarez, and Nolito testing Sergio Asenjo a couple of times in reply. However with five minutes to go to the break Giovani picked up a Moreno pass in midfield and ran on to open the scoring, and with half time approaching Musacchio headed a second from a Moi Gómez corner. Augusto Fernández headed one back from Nolito’s free kick though, and Charles went close with a couple of efforts. But a few minutes later Tomás Pina set up substitute Vietto to poke a shot past Alvarez, and with six minutes to go Moreno put the result beyond doubt with a fourth goal from another Pina assist.