Their 1-0 home win last time out proved crucial in the second-leg encounter as Villarreal sealed their spot in the next round of the competition at the expense of Napoli
Villarreal confirmed their place in the last 16 of the Europa League following a 2-1 aggregate victory over Napoli on Thursday, following a 1-1 draw at San Paolo.
Marek Hamsik provided the hosts with hope of qualification when he struck a fine volley from the edge of the area inside 20 minutes, showing exquisite technique to find the bottom corner after the Villarreal defence failed to clear sufficiently.
Following the half-time interval, it was the Spanish outfit who took control of the game, as defender Tomas Pina remarkably somehow found the far corner of the net from the edge of the box.
Marek Hamsik provided the hosts with hope of qualification when he struck a fine volley from the edge of the area inside 20 minutes, showing exquisite technique to find the bottom corner after the Villarreal defence failed to clear sufficiently.
Following the half-time interval, it was the Spanish outfit who took control of the game, as defender Tomas Pina remarkably somehow found the far corner of the net from the edge of the box.
The match started at a slow pace, but suddenly burst into life when Hamsik pounced on a poor clearance at the top of the box to lash an admirable volley into the corner to level matters on aggregate.
Napoli still knew that one Villarreal goal would require them to score two more, and they set about trying to take the lead outright in the tie.
Dries Mertens dragged a shot just wide at the end of the half, moments before Mateo Musacchio deflected a cross onto his own near post.
However, out of nowhere, the visitors would snare an away goal 59 minutes in, as Pina’s attempted cross from the corner of the box sailed into the far side of Pepe Reina's goal instead.
Napoli were suddenly in all sorts of trouble, and with a two-goal aggregate deficit to make up, they spent the rest of the second period camped in the Villarreal half.
Insigne and Higuain both missed decent chances, but the staunch defence of the visitors was enough to prevent Alphonse Areola from any serious danger in the closing stages, as Napoli bowed out of the competition.
Napoli still knew that one Villarreal goal would require them to score two more, and they set about trying to take the lead outright in the tie.
Dries Mertens dragged a shot just wide at the end of the half, moments before Mateo Musacchio deflected a cross onto his own near post.
However, out of nowhere, the visitors would snare an away goal 59 minutes in, as Pina’s attempted cross from the corner of the box sailed into the far side of Pepe Reina's goal instead.
Napoli were suddenly in all sorts of trouble, and with a two-goal aggregate deficit to make up, they spent the rest of the second period camped in the Villarreal half.
Insigne and Higuain both missed decent chances, but the staunch defence of the visitors was enough to prevent Alphonse Areola from any serious danger in the closing stages, as Napoli bowed out of the competition.
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário