Villarreal began the 2025/26 LALIGA season with a resounding 2-0 victory over Real Oviedo, marking their first-ever home win in a season opener at La Cerámica.
Goals from Etta Eyong and Pape Gueye secured the win against a determined Oviedo team, who played with ten men for over an hour.
This match held special significance for Villarreal, as they aimed to break a long-standing jinx: they had never won a Matchday 1 game when played at home in La Cerámica, with eight previous attempts resulting in no victories.
They faced Real Oviedo, who were making their return to the top flight after 24 years.
In addition to the match, the game was memorable for the return of one of Villarreal’s greatest legends, Santi Cazorla.
At 40 years old, the magician from Asturias came back to La Cerámica as captain of his hometown club. Villarreal honored him with a commemorative shirt recognizing his 334 appearances for the team, while fans gave him a heartfelt ovation in recognition of his extraordinary career.
As the match kicked off, the tributes gave way to action. Marcelino deployed his first starting XI of the season, featuring Etta Eyong and new signings Santiago Mouriño and Rafa Marín, both of whom made their debuts at La Cerámica.
In the 12th minute, the referee awarded Oviedo a penalty following a mix-up between Foyth and Luiz Júnior.
Ilyas Chaira took advantage of the situation, but the Brazilian goalkeeper successfully denied Salomón Rondón’s attempt, prompting a roar from the stands.
Villarreal quickly retaliated with a threatening attack. Gerard Moreno combined with Pepe, who broke through on goal but failed to find the back of the net.
The Yellows began to push forward with increased intensity. On 28 minutes, Oviedo was reduced to ten men when Alberto Reina received a second yellow card for a foul on Pepe near the box.
From the resulting corner, Etta Eyong showcased his fine scoring form with a powerful header, putting Villarreal in the lead. With the man advantage, Villarreal continued to press and soon doubled their lead. In the 36th minute, Pape Gueye unleashed a thunderous left-footed strike from the edge of the box after a clever lay-off from Pepe.
The second half saw Villarreal dominate possession as they sought a third goal. Marcelino made tactical changes to manage the game, substituting Gerard Moreno, who was carrying a knock, with Buchanan, while Moleiro and Parejo also came on for Foyth and Gueye.
In the closing stages, Pedraza and Thomas Partey also got minutes on the pitch. The Yellows controlled the match with poise, keeping Oviedo at bay.
Yeremy Pino found the net in added time, but the goal was disallowed for handball. The final whistle confirmed a solid 2-0 victory, earning Villarreal three valuable points to kick off their LALIGA season.
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