Liverpool Withstands Villarreal's Rally, Advances to 2022 Champions League Final
May 3, 2022
Liverpool's Fabinho celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League semi final, second leg soccer match between Villarreal and Liverpool at the Ceramica stadium in Villarreal, Spain, Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)
The quadruple remains on for Liverpool.
Thanks to a second-half turnaround, the Reds beat Villarreal 5-2 on aggregate to qualify for the Champions League final.
The "game of two halves" cliche certainly applied Tuesday night at Estadio de la Ceramica. Liverpool went behind by two goals before scoring three unanswered to make the final score more one-sided than the tie was.
Villarreal was decisively beaten in the first leg, and the 2-0 final score might have slightly flattered the Spanish club. The Yellow Submarine only finished with 29 percent of possession and failed to register a shot on target.
Veteran center back Pau Torres wasn't throwing in the towel, though.
"At home we are a totally different team, we are going to go out there and play to win," he told Movistar Plus (via Reuters). "We still trust in ourselves, we have no doubt. I can promise our fans they are going to see a Villarreal that they can identify with in the second leg."
From the opening whistle, Villarreal displayed a clear sense of purpose and showed no fear in taking the match right to Liverpool. That mentality resulted in a goal straight away.
In the third minute, Pervis Estupinan hit a dangerous cross to the far post. Etienne Capoue didn't make clean contact with his attempted shot, which proved to be a blessing in disguise as the ball rolled perfectly into the path of Boulaye Dia.
Three minutes in and Villarreal already got one back š±
The goal didn't shake Liverpool out of its early slumber as Villarreal continued to boss the game from there. An aggregate equalizer felt inevitable, and it arrived in the 41st minute on a header from Francis Coquelin.
It was a stunning turnaround from such a one-sided opening leg, both in terms of Villarreal's dominance and Liverpool's disarray.
Half time, Villarreal 2 (2) Liverpool 0 (2). The Reds playing like they have finally run out of steam after such an intense run - and like they canāt handle being played at their own game. One way to handle it is to pass the ball better, but they know that. Work for Klopp to do.
Did say earlier to @ianirvingtv that Villarreal needed a replica of the first leg first half v Bayern to get back in this tie. Did not for a second imagine that they'd actually produce it.
The abolishment of the away-goals rule meant the second half was there for the taking for the host. Under the old format, Liverpool would've needed only one goal to effectively blunt all of the momentum Villarreal had built to that point. Without that advantage for the Reds, the match continued to teeter on a knife's edge.
Whereas some were calling for Jordan Henderson to replace Naby Keita at the halftime interval, manager Jurgen Klopp opted to bring on Luis Diaz for Diogo Jota. The Liverpool manager clearly wanted to take a more aggressive approach.
Between that and whatever Klopp told his players in the dressing room, the second half was a stark contrast to the first.
Fabinho made it 2-1 in the 62nd minute on a shot that squeezed between the legs of Villarreal goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli. Diaz added more breathing room in the 67th minute, illustrating how much his inclusion changed the match.
Rulli could've done more to keep Fabinho's effort out of the net, and he was squarely to blame for Sadio Mane's tally in the 74th minute. The Argentine shot-stopper ran well off his line and left the goal wide open as Mane got on the end of a lofted pass from Keita.
Overcoming a two-goal deficit in a little more than 20 minutes was already a tall order for Villarreal, so going behind by three meant the end of the home side's Cinderella story.
Liverpool, on the other hand, punched its ticket to Paris for the Champions League final on May 28. The Reds await the winner of Wednesday's semifinal between Manchester City and Real Madrid.
They will either have the chance to best their biggest domestic rival or gain a measure of vengeance after losing to Madrid in the 2018 final.
Sadio Mane, Liverpool Grab 2-0 Win over Villarreal in 1st Leg of UCL Semifinal
Apr 27, 2022
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 27: ( THE SUN OUT ,THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Sadio Mane of Liverpool celebrates after scoring the second goal during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final Leg One match between Liverpool and Villarreal at Anfield on April 27, 2022 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Liverpool secured a 2-0 victory over Villarreal in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals on Wednesday at Anfield.
Villarreal played the role of spoiler in the round of 16 and quarterfinals, first knocking out Juventus and then stifling Bayern Munich for a 2-1 aggregate win.
There was no chance Liverpool would take Villarreal lightly, with manager Jurgen Klopp saying in the buildup it was "a very difficult opponent" and "made for this competition."
"There might have been a little advantage in the last two games, maybe Juve or Bayern underestimated them, but that will never happen to us," Klopp told reporters. "There is no chance, so this little advantage might have gone."
Because of how Villarreal would approach the fixture, there was also little chance of replicating the seven-goal frenzy in Manchester City's win over Real Madrid on Tuesday.
The first half ended as many expected. Liverpool had 63 percent of possession, completing 258 passes to 95 for its opponents. The Reds were unable to do much with all of their time on the ball, though. They had 13 shots but only two on target.
Villarreal was defending resolutely and successfully mucking things up in its own half.
Villarreal have so far succeeded in making this a dog of a game for Liverpool. Very attritional, not creating much.
Liverpool's closest scoring opportunity came in the 42nd minute, fittingly on a shot from distance. Thiago unleashed a thunderous effort that hit off the post.
— CBS Sports Golazo ā½ļø (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 27, 2022
The hosts saw a goal by Fabinho ruled out for offside in the 50th minute, which seemingly set the stage for another nervy half. Then the matchāand perhaps the tie as a wholeāwas drastically altered in a two-minute span.
In the 53rd minute, a cross by Jordan Henderson was deflected by Pervis Estupinan into the path of the goal. Villarreal goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli got a hand to the ball and perhaps should've done more to prevent what was an own goal credited to Estupinan.
— CBS Sports Golazo ā½ļø (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 27, 2022
Conceding the second goal could be a backbreaker for Villarreal.
Going behind 1-0 meant the Yellow Submarine wouldn't need to significantly alter their game plan while searching for an equalizer. With one lethal counterattack, they could bring the semifinals back to square one.
Mane's goal forces Unai Emery's squad to come out of its defensive shell. Based on Wednesday night, that might be easier said than done.
The more Villarreal attempts to press the tempo, the more it'll leave itself exposed to Liverpool's venomous attacking trio of Mane, Salah and Luis Diaz, too.
Even without the away goals rule, Liverpool finding the back of the net early in the second leg could end any remaining drama about this matchup. Benfica had to approach the second leg of the quarterfinals with the same mindset and wound up drawing 3-3 to lose 6-4 to Liverpool on aggregate.
Villarreal will host the return fixture at Estadio de la Ceramica on Tuesday. Time might be running out for the last remaining underdog in this year's Champions League.
Villarreal Eliminate Bayern Munich, Advance to UCL Semifinals with 88th-Minute Winner
Apr 12, 2022
Villarreal's Nigerian midfielder Samuel Chukwueze celebrates scoring the 1-1 during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final, second leg football match FC Bayern Munich v FC Villarreal in Munich, southern Germany on April 12, 2022. (Photo by Jose Jordan / AFP) (Photo by JOSE JORDAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Villarreal completed its stunning upset over Bayern Munich with a 2-1 aggregate win in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals.
After grabbing a surprising 1-0 advantage in the first leg at home, the La Liga squad closed things out in Tuesday's second leg at Allianz Arena with a late winner by Samuel Chukwueze.
— CBS Sports Golazo ā½ļø (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 12, 2022
Robert Lewandowski had equalized the tie with a goal in the 52nd minute, his 13th of the Championship League campaign. It seemed another Bayern goal would be inevitable, but it was Villarreal that came through on the counterattack in the closing minutes of regulation.
Bayern was seeking its seventh European championship and second in the last three years, but it couldn't overcome last year's Europa League winners.
Villarreal will now face the winner of Liverpool and Benfica in the first leg of the UCL semifinals on April 26 or 27.
After a first leg that featured just one goal, the second leg was another defensive struggle with neither side able to create many opportunities early.
Lewandowski was quiet in the first half but finally came through with the match's first goal in the 52nd minute:
— CBS Sports Golazo ā½ļø (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 12, 2022
It created a 1-1 tie on aggregate, setting up a dramatic finish.
Bayern Munich continued to produce more shots, but it was the first shot on net for Villarreal that ended up deciding the match. Chukwueze finished an excellent pass from Gerard Moreno on the counter to put the Spanish club ahead for the eventual win.
It was a change from the first half when each team failed to take advantage of its few chances.
There was more pressure on Bayern, which came out with an aggressive 3-2-4-1 formation led by Lewandowski. Bayern had 63 percent possession in the first half while outshooting Villarreal 8-2, although only one shot was on net.
The home team simply wasn't as dangerous as it should have been:
Bayern have five attackers on the pitch and they've managed just one shot on target in the first-half. Villarreal sitting deep, but Bayern should be better than this
Lewandowski had a yellow card and might have deserved a second one but was fortunate to stay on the pitch. While the striker came through with a goal in the second half, it wasn't enough to keep his team in the competition.
After consecutive wins over some of Europe's top clubs in Juventus and Bayern Munich, Villarreal is now into the UCL semifinals for the first time since 2006.
Villarreal Stun Bayern Munich 1-0 in 1st Leg of Champions League Quarterfinal
Apr 6, 2022
VILLARREAL, SPAIN - APRIL 06: Arnaut Danjuma of Villarreal CF celebrates after scoring their team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One match between Villarreal CF and Bayern MĆ¼nchen at Estadio de la Ceramica on April 06, 2022 in Villarreal, Spain. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Villarreal has Bayern Munich on the ropes in the Champions League quarterfinals thanks to a 1-0 victory in the first leg Wednesday night.
Bayern was fortunate to come away with a draw from its first leg against Red Bull Salzburg in the round of 16 as Kingsley Coman scored in the 90th minute. The German giants followed with a 7-1 demolition of Salzburg to reassert the natural order of things.
Even with the opening leg at Estadio de la Ceramica, Villarreal entered as the obvious underdog. The club sits seventh in La Liga and followed its 3-0 victory over Juventus with defeats to Cadiz and Levante.
But Bayern Munich found itself down 1-0 in just the eighth minute. Dani Parejo hit a low shot that appeared to be going wide but fortuitously found the feet of Arnaut Danjuma.
Bayern haven't lost away in the #UCL since 2017. š
— CBS Sports Golazo ā½ļø (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 6, 2022
Francis Coquelin appeared to double Villarreal's lead when his mishit cross floated into the back post in the 41st minute. The goal was taken off the board, however, following a video review.
A 2-0 scoreline wouldn't have flattered the host, which did a great job of controlling the tempo in the first half. Bayern Munich didn't have a single shot on target in the first 45 minutes, and the impact of Robert Lewandowski hardly registered.
Bayern zero shots on target. Thomas Muller and Lewandowski barely had a kick. Lewy just 13 touches, the majority in his own half.
As the second half got underway, there remained a sense that the other shoe would drop for Villarreal. Bayern's quality would shine through sooner or later, or the Yellow Submarine would slowly run out of gas as the finish line approached.
For the second time, Manuel Neuer was also spared after making an uncharacteristic error. The Bayern goalkeeper ventured well outside of his box and hit a pass that was intercepted by Gerard Moreno. The Villarreal winger let loose from around the halfway line and saw his effort bounce wide.
Gerard Moreno almost lobbed Manuel Neuer from the half way line.
On the other end of the pitch, it looked like Villarreal were playing with two or three extra players with how frequently they were blocking Bayern Munich's efforts on goal.
But Bayern's draw with Salzburg served as a reminder of how all of Villarreal's work could be undone in a moment. All of the scoring opportunities the Spanish side wasted could come back to haunt the club.
Coman was almost the hero for the Bavarians again when he was unmarked in the box, but he hit his half-volley straight at Geronimo Rulli in the first minute of second-half stoppage time.
Unlike Salzburg, Villarreal held on and put the pressure squarely on Bayern Munich for the return fixture.
What's Next?
The clubs will head to Allianz Arena on April 12 for the second leg.
Champions League Results 2022: Qualified Teams After Wednesday Round of 16 Games
Mar 16, 2022
TURIN, ITALY - MARCH 16: Gerard Moreno of Villarreal CF celebrates with his team-mates Serge Aurier and Samu Chukwueze after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Champions League Round Of Sixteen Leg Two match between Juventus and Villarreal CF at Juventus Stadium on March 16, 2022 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images)
The quarterfinals have finally come into form in the Champions League as the round of 16 drew to a close Wednesday.
Chelsea coasted past Lille 4-1 on aggregate thanks to a 2-1 victory in the second leg. Villarreal stunned Juventus with three late goals to advance on a 4-1 aggregate score line.
Here are the eight teams moving on to the next round:
2021-22 Champions League Quarterfinal Field
Atletico Madrid
Bayern Munich
Benfica
Chelsea
Liverpool
Manchester City
Real Madrid
Villarreal
Coming into the night, both fixtures were delicately poised.
Chelsea held a two-goal lead on Lille, but the ongoing turmoil at Stamford Bridge is the kind of thing that could potentially spill into the team's performance on the pitch. A comeback for the reigning Ligue 1 champion at home was plausible.
Juventus and Villarreal, meanwhile, had played to a 1-1 stalemate in their opening leg.
Chelsea and Lille provided the early excitement.
Jorginho was guilty of a handball in the 35th minute, which gave Lille a penalty. Burak Yilmaz hammered his effort past Edouard Mendy into the top right corner.
But on the brink of halftime, Christian Pulisic put Chelsea ahead by two goals again. The 23-year-old American continues to perform well on the biggest stages.
Conceding so close to halftime always carries the danger of deflating a team's morale. Lille watched all of its hard work over the previous 45-plus minutes undone in a moment.
It looked like Jocelyn Gourvennec's side never recovered from the setback. Lille was unable to muster much in the final third before Cesar Azpilicueta removed any doubt about the outcome with a goal in the 71st minute.
— CBS Sports Golazo ā½ļø (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 16, 2022
As that was happening, Villarreal was taking a 1-0 lead on Juventus.
Daniele Rugani conceded a penalty for a foul on Francis Coquelin. Wojciech Szczesny got a hand to Gerard Moreno's low shot but couldn't keep the ball out of the back of the net.
— CBS Sports Golazo ā½ļø (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 16, 2022
Arnaut Danjuma added a third for good measure in the second minute of second-half stoppage time.
Signing Dusan Vlahovic in January didn't immediately make Juventus the Champions League favorite, but the transfer was clearly a sign of the club's continued lofty ambitions in Europe.
Juve reached the Champions League final in 2014-15 and again in 2016-17. Since then, they've failed to advance past the quarterfinals, and this will be their third straight exit in the round of 16.
As with Paris Saint-Germain, it seems fair to wonder at this point whether the dominance Juventus enjoyed domestically somehow ill-equipped to handle the Champions League.
If weāre saying that PSG have a ātraitā of bottling leads in the UCL, do we have to also say that Juve have a trait of completely bottling ties against sides they are āon paperā stronger than?
This #Juventus needs a forward thinking Coach who can get the best of Locatelli, Vlahovic & Chiesa, instead of hoping Rugani can keep a clean sheet & Cuadrado can produce a moment of magic.
Cut the deadwood, move into 2022 & maybe 1996 wonāt feel like so long ago.
Because of club chairman's Andrea Agnelli connection to the ill-fated European Super League, schadenfreude over the Italian giant's exit ran rampant once again.
Juventus knocked out of the Champions League in successive seasons by Ajax, Lyon, Porto & Villarreal. Four clubs not deemed "glamorous" enough for the European Super League by one of its key cheerleaders - Juve chairman Andrea Agnelli. You absolutely love to see it.
If recent history is an indicator, the cream will eventually rise to the top. Once the final rolls around, it will likely be two of the usual suspects taking the Stade de France pitch on May 28.
For now, fans can at least still hope for a Cinderella run by Villarreal or Benfica, or even a long-awaited Champions League triumph for Atletico Madrid and manager Diego Simeone.
Miracle Man: The Story of Santi Cazorla's Extraordinary Comeback
Nov 29, 2018
MADRID, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 11: Santi Cazorla of Villarreal CF looks on prior to the La Liga match between Rayo Vallecano de Madrid and Villarreal CF at Campo de Futbol de Vallecas on November 11, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
The kid is back. After spending the guts of two years without playing a match due to injury, Santi Cazorla is running the show at Villarreal in La Liga. Last Sunday, for example, the Yellow Submarine hosted Real Betis in the league. A moment of magic by the midfielder helped to decide the game.Ā
With 54 minutes on the clock, Villarreal went sniffing for a goal. A deflected ball squirted across the box. Betis defender Junior collected it, but he was immediately dispossessed by Cazorla who dribbled the ball towards the end line.
Cazorla was headed down a blind alley. He faked to cross the ball, which unbalanced Junior enough for the former Arsenal man's next trickāan audacious back-heel into the path of team-mate Samuel Chukwueze, who took a touch before slotting the ball into the corner of the net.
It was Villarreal's second goal and Cazorla's second assist on the night. They won 2-1, and the three points dragged them out of the relegation zone.
Javier Perez is a journalist with El Pais. He first met a teenage Cazorla on a Villarreal trip to Bucharest, Romania, during the player's first stint with the club.
He says Cazorla is part of a group of Spain playersāalong with Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and David Silvaāthat revolutionised the game. They are "the crazy little ones" who have shown us that small, skilful midfielders can dominate a game with their close control and passing ability.
Cazorla is still weaving the same magic that brought him to prominence alongside that triumvirate during Spain's historic UEFA Euro 2008 wināthe country's first major tournament triumph.
"It is like time hasn't passed or there hasn't been any injuryāhe's the same player," says Perez. "The match against Betis was only his [second] match in the league he played for 90 minutes, but he had a great level. He's practically the same playerāplaying midfield, drifting into the centre from the wingābut obviously now he has greater experience. He knows the runs he needs to make."Ā
It's incredible to see Cazorla at the heart of a Villarreal victory, having rejoined the club that gave him his La Liga debut 15 years ago. In football terms, people had given up on him. A year ago, even he reckoned it was "unthinkable" that he would play top-flight football again. However, he has managed to defy medical science.
Cazorla's troubles go back to an international friendly between Spain and Chileāone of 77Ā caps he picked up for his countryāin October 2013. He suffered a knock on his ankle early in the game but played the full match with a cracked bone.
For the next few years, he continued to play through pain despite the niggling injury until it got unbearable one night in a UEFA Champions League tie with Arsenal against Ludogorets Razgrad at the Emirates Stadium. He was substituted just before the hour mark. He cried with pain that night.
In December 2016, he underwent surgery in Sweden on the damaged ankle, but an infection he picked up during the surgery complicated his recovery, according to Juan Carlos Herranz, who has worked as Cazorla's physiotherapist. Several more operations ensued. Several more times his body betrayed him. His wounds kept reopening. Yellow pus used to pour out of his ankle at night, seeping through his stitches.
Cazorla's medical team told him to banish thoughts about playing football again: The best he could strive for was a game in the gardenĀ some day with his two kids, Enzo and India. They hadn't figured on the Spaniard's resolve, though.
He retreated to Spain where he met with Dr. Mikel Sanchez, a renowned surgeon who has made star sportsmen such as Rafael Nadal and Iniesta better again from his surgery in the Basque city of Vitoria.
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: Santi Cazorla of Arsenal is helped to his feet by referee Danny Makkelie during the UEFA Champions League group A match between Arsenal FC and FC Basel 1893 at the Emirates Stadium on September 28, 2016 in London, England.
Sanchez had never seen a case like Cazorla's. He poked around his leg. The Achilles tendon at the back of his right foot was riddled with infection. Three bacterial bugs had eaten away eight-10 centimetres of the Achilles tendon (an average Achilles tendon is only 15 centimetresĀ long). The infection had spread to the bone also. He was at risk of losing his leg.
Sanchez went to work. First, he cleaned up as much of the infection as possible. Then he blasted Cazorla with antibiotics over the next couple of months for the remaining spots of infection. He then went back to operate on the tendon again. This was when the surgeon had to get inventive. He had to reconstruct what was left of the Achilles tendon and make it whole again. He pulled semitendinosus tissue from one of the player's hamstrings to make do. He inserted a plate into his heel.Ā
By the time Cazorla was finished with the operating theatre as a result of that original ankle injury in October 2013, he had endured 10Ā operations. His body was a patchwork. During one skin-graft procedure, when flesh from his left forearm was taken for use on his right ankle, a tattoo with his daughter's name, India, was cut in halfāthe letters "I" and "A" are now orphaned on his ankle.
"My great fear when I got to know him was that he wouldn't be able to play football again," says Sanchez. "Santi's big problem was we had to heal the infection and reconstruct the Achilles tendon so it worked with the same power as before. To return him to the level of football he was previously at was something I've never seen done before.
"It was a challenge to do this surgery and a very stressful one because the goal was not only to make him walk again like a normal person walking on the street but he was a player who wanted to return to the highest level in a sport as demanding as football. I always had the fear that all of the press, all of the newspapers were waiting to see what would happen to Santi Cazorla. If he failed in his recovery, it would have been very disappointing. This is what I always feared."
After the surgeon had finished with his knife, Cazorla's road to recovery was only starting, however. In July 2017, he left the Basque Country for Salamanca. He rocked up at Herranz's physiotherapy clinic in the picturesque medieval city.
Cazorla was walking with a limp, but he was comfortable with Herranz. They had known each other for a decade. Herranz has worked as a physio for the Spain national football team since 2000.
Cazorla's rehabilitation regime was brutal. He lived a monastic existence in Salamanca. His family stayed in London where his kids were at school, later moving to Asturias to be closer to their extended family. His daily schedule started at 10 a.m. and might not finish until after 11 p.m. at night. His days were a swirl of Pilates, swimming-pool sessions and physical workouts interspersed with physiotherapy. He often ate take-out at night on Herranz's treatment table.
Step by step, Cazorla made progress. In August 2017, he got to do his first bit of running. The strength in his legs started to come back. But then disaster struck. In November 2017, his leg broke down again. The makeshift tendon had to be unravelled from tangled tissue and reattached. More surgery was required. He was back to square one. A lesser man would have packed it in. But not Cazorla.Ā
VIENNA, AUSTRIA - NOVEMBER 08: Santi Cazorla of Villarreal and Andrei Ivan of Rapid during the UEFA Europa League match between Rapid Wien and Villarreal at Weststadion on November 8, 2018 in Vienna, Austria. (Photo by Johann Schwarz/SEPA.Media /Getty Ima
"That was a hard moment," says Herranz. "With us here in Salamanca, he was already running and going out on to the pitch, doing some exercises with the ball. He was making a lot of progress, but then he phoned me from Vitoria to say his leg had broken down again. It was the most complicated moment during Santi's recuperation."
Herranz credits Cazorla's indomitable will for giving him the strength to start again.
"Santi has a lot of personality," says Herranz. "He's a guy who is really tough. He makes sacrifices. He's a fighter. He's very positive. If he weren't so positive a lot of sportspeople in his situation would have abandoned the treatment cycle."
It's a trait that Sanchez picks up on, too. He says there were several factors that ultimately contributed to the success of Cazorla's recovery, which included the quality of his physiotherapy treatment; the modern biological therapies that Sanchez was able to profit from during Cazorla's operations and the fact the 33-year-old is blessed with fantastic genes.
Above all these factors, however, Sanchez singles out Cazorla's positive mindset: "It's the force of his willpowerāhis mentality. He never, ever lost the desire to return to play football. He always saidāeven if I was losing my faithāthat he would play football again. The hours of work he did in the gym, working on his muscles, repeatedly, was incredible."
Cazorla climbed back up the mountain. He reached the peak in July 2018 when he played in a friendly match against Hercules. It had been more than 600 days since he had last played a game. A few weeks later, Villarreal gave him a one-year contract with an option for a second season.
He was back. On August 18, Cazorla made his La Liga return in a home game for Villarreal against Real Sociedad. He got a standing ovation when he was withdrawn in the 73rdĀ minute. Perez notes he has been getting applause from rival Liga fans wherever Villarreal play this season. He can expect the same when he runs out against Barcelona at the Camp Nou on Sunday.
Sanchez also gets a kick whenever he sees him play. "He's like a son," he says. "I have great affection for him. For me to see him play footballāor to score a goal againāis powerful. It's very moving. A case like Santi's, and the level to which he recovered, is exceptional. It's a miracle."Ā
Report: Santi Cazorla Earns 1-Year Villarreal Contract After Arsenal Exit
Aug 7, 2018
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 04: Santi Cazorla of Villareal runs with the ball during the pre-season friendly match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Villareal at Molineux on August 4, 2018 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Villarreal have reportedly offered former Arsenal midfielderĀ Santi Cazorla a one-year contract after a successful trial period.
According toĀ Adriana Garcia of ESPN.co.uk, the injury-plagued Spaniard has agreed to terms that include the option of a further season extension, and the deal will be announced on Thursday at Villarreal'sĀ Ceramica Stadium.Ā
Cazorla, 33, left the Gunners earlier this summer after his contract expired.
He had not played for the north London club sinceĀ October 2016Ā because of enduring complications with anĀ Achilles tendon injury.
On July 17, however, he came on for Villarreal in a pre-season clash with Hercules, per Goal:
A brilliant sight!
Santi Cazorla made his long-awaited return from injury during Villarreal's pre-season clash against Hercules. š pic.twitter.com/7cLd5rcKvx
Per the club'sĀ official websiteĀ (h/t Garcia), Villarreal managerĀ Javi Calleja previously said: "If everything goes according to plan and there are good vibes, Santi will be a luxury reinforcement for us."
Clearly he has shown he can be an asset in the coming season.
Cazorla has spent two previous spells in the Villarreal first teamāfrom 2003 to 2006 and 2007 to 2011.
There are likely many who feared he would never play again given the severity and duration of his Achilles injury.
But it looks as though Cazorla will turn out in La Liga again next season, with Villarreal's 2018-19 campaign kicking off against Real Sociedad on August 18.Ā
Ruben Semedo Charged with Attempted Murder; Agent Says Semedo Is the Victim
Feb 22, 2018
Villarreal's Portuguese defender Ruben Semedo arrives escorted by a Spanish Guardia Civil guards at the couthouse in Lliria, on February 22, 2018.
Semedo was arrested on February 20, 2018 on suspicion of holding somebody against their will and causing injury, a source close to the investigation told AFP. It is not the first time Portuguese under-21 international Semedo has been in trouble with police since signing for Villarreal from Sporting Lisbon prior to this season. He was arrested in November following an alleged altercation at a nightclub, for which he is awaiting trial.
/ AFP PHOTO / STRINGER (Photo credit should read STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images)
Villarreal defender Ruben Semedo has been charged with attempted murder by a Spanish judge and has been held in custody without bail.
As reported by the Associated Press, the 23-year-old has also been charged with assault, robbery, illegal detention and illegal possession of firearms after testifying in court on Thursday in Lliria, Spain.
The Portuguese youth international has been accused of assaulting and threatening a man a week ago after taking him captive. It's also alleged Semedo had two accomplices while they robbed the victim's property.
Semedo's agent, however, told TSF (h/t Victor Franch of Marca) the case has more to it:
"Explaining right now is hard, Ruben was victim of a fraud, of a huge trick, probably financial.
"In this situation he didn't react very correctly, but he was the victim.
"What I have seen on Spanish television is a disgraceful situation, really bad.Ā Ruben was not involved in that."
It's added that Villarreal are set to launch their own investigation and will take action against the player accordingly. Semedo has denied any involvement in the crime.
As noted byĀ Football Espana, it's been reported that shots were fired in an attempt to scare the victim at the time of the alleged theft.
The defender moved to Villarreal from Sporting CP last summer. Journalist Jan Hagen noted the switch hasn't gone to plan:
RĆŗben Semedo's timeline at Villarreal: June: ā¬14m move from Sporting August: Debut October: Injured and alleged assault with a glass bottle November: Charged for threatening two men with a gun at a night club December: New injury February: Arrested for tying up and beating a man pic.twitter.com/xP8Evw8zzH
Semedo was rated highly during his time in Lisbon, and big things were expected of him before his switch to La Liga. However, he's made just five appearances for his new club.
Real Madrid vs. Villarreal: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info
Jan 12, 2018
Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Real Madrid continue their La Liga campaign on Saturday afternoon, with Villarreal the visitors to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Zinedine Zidane's side were held by Celta Vigo last time out in the league and are now 16 points behind leaders Barcelona, although they have played a game less then their rivals.
Villarreal, meanwhile, head to the Spanish capital knowing a victory will move them to within a point of Los Blancos.
Real Madrid are still without captain Sergio Ramos, who has suffered a setback in his recovery from a calf injury, per Reuters.
Karim Benzema is also sidelined with a hip problem and is not expected back until later in January, per Marca's Pablo Polo.Ā
Villarreal will be without defender Victor Ruiz due to suspension and remain without long-term absenteesĀ Bruno Soriano, Roberto Soriano, Nicolas Sansone, Andres Fernandez and Ruben Semedo.
The visitors will also have to make do without top scorer Cedric Bakambu, who is heading to China, so will look to Carlos Bacca for goals against Madrid.
Ā Ā Ā
Preview
VIGO, SPAIN - JANUARY 07: Zinedine Zidane the manager of Real Madrid looks on prior to the La Liga match between Celta de Vigo and Real Madrid at Estadio de Balaidos on January 7, 2018 in Vigo, Spain. (Photo by fotopress/Getty Images)
Zidane is coming under scrutiny due to Real Madrid's disappointing defence of the La Liga title, in which they are so far behind rivals Barcelona.
Real look a shadow of the side that retained theĀ UEFA Champions League trophy in June, with key players Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema out of form whileĀ Gareth BaleĀ has struggled with injury.
The club also appears to have lost some strength in depth after Alvaro Morata and James Rodriguez moved on in the summer.
However, Zidane has said he does not plan to strengthen in the January transfer window and he trusts his current squad, perĀ beIN Sports.Ā
Madrid have been boosted by the return to fitness of Bale, who started and scored twice in the draw against Celta.Ā
ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan said the Wales international looks in good shape after a lengthy spell out:
Not to say that Bale and Ronaldo working as a partnership / not sure they've linked up at all. But Bale looks razor sharp and fully fit.
After the game, Zidane also said the team held a meeting to talk about their situation, per Corrigan.
It's therefore possible the manager may look to make changes for the Villarreal clash, but improvements will be needed after Madrid looked so jaded against Celta.
Villarreal were also held last time out in the league, when they conceded an 86th-minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Deportivo La Coruna.
It was only their fourth league draw of the season and leaves them in sixth place in the table ahead of this weekend's round of fixtures.
The Yellow Submarine will also be weakened by the loss of top scorer Bakambu, who is set to join Chinese Super League side Beijing Guoan, per European football writer Andy Brassell:
However, the club have moved quickly to replace Bakambu with forward Roger Martinez, per Marca'sĀ M. A. Rodriguez.
The Colombia international was named on the bench for theĀ Copa del Rey clash against Leganes on Wednesday but could feature at some point against Real Madrid.
Villarreal have the players to cause the hosts problems, but Zidane will demand a response from his side after a difficult spell. And with Bale back and in form, Real may just have the extra firepower to secure all three points.
