On Group F matchday 1 of the 2021-2022 UEFA Youth League, Villarreal win 2-0 at the Mini Estadi de La Ciudad Deportiva del Villarreal against Atalanta Primavera with a goal in the opening minutes and one in stoppages.
It was an uphill game from the beginning as Pacheco Ruiz gave Villarreal the lead in the 7th minute after he got past Dajcar with a clinical daisy-cutter. Sidibe led the Nerazzurri’s reaction by creating two chances but it was Dajcar again who avoided Villarreal’s double, as he rushed out to deny Pascual Medina on 27 minutes. Just before half-time, the Nerazzurri almost scored the equalizer through Lozza, as he broke away from a few defenders but eventually fired over from a good spot.
In the second half, Sidibe’s header was weak and Omar nodded on target but his effort was punched away by the goalkeeper on 64 minutes. The Nerazzurri had another chance to equalise in the 68th minute when Oliveri forced a great save from the hosts’ goalkeeper. Villarreal got dangerous in the 77th minute through Garcia Escudero who burst into the box but fired wide when one-on-one with Dajcar. The Nerazzurri goalkeeper pulled off another great save on Ortega Lluch’s angled drive on 87 minutes and Garcia Escudero’s close-range finish minutes later. In stoppage time, Garcia Escudero himself doubled Villarreal’s lead with a clear cut angled drive that finished off the match.
VILLAREAL 2-0 ATALANTA
Scorers: Pacheco Ruiz 7 (V), Garcia Escudero 91 (V)
Villarreal: Jorgensen, Sanchez Arriero (Mateo Clemente 85), Bonachera Lopez, Espigares Morillas, Alonso Martin, Pascual Medina, Geralnik (Hinojsa Jimenez 78), Gelardo, Torrents Beltran (Garcia Escudero 69), Foubert Jacquemin, Pacheco Ruiz (Ortega Lluch 69).
Substitutes: Nicolau Benlloch, Segura Clausell, Mateo Clemente, Montiel Alvarez.
Coach: Pedro Marti Castello.
Atalanta: Dajcar, Ceresoli (80 Fisic), Zuccon, Sidibe, Oliveri, Hecko (Chiwisa 46), Omar, Regonesi (Bernasconi 57), Berto, Giovane, Lozza (Stabile 57).
Substitutes: Sassi, Roaldsøy, Chiwisa, Fisic, Saleh, Bernasconi, Stabile.
Coach: Massimo Brambilla.
Referee: Ivaylo Stoyanov (BUL).
Assistants: Georgi Todorov (BUL) and Petar Nikolov Dzhuganski (BUL).
Fourth official: Ivan Munoz Perez (EPS).
Notes: Espigares Morillas (V), Pacheco Ruiz (V), Gelardo (V), Bonachera Lopez (V), Ortega Lluch (V), Garcia Escudero (V), Zuccon (A), Sidibe (A), Oliveri (A), Giovane (A) booked.