La Liga 2020/21: Villarreal vs Valencia

Unai Emerys Villarreal are finally starting to show what theyre truly capable of. Even though their 2-1 victory over a deserted Valencia doesn’t mean much, the tactics and the principles deployed were promising.

This tactical analysis will aim to show you just how the Yellow Submarine got the better of the Bats of Valencia and what issues still plague the latter team.

Lineups

Emery only made two changes to the team that drew with Atletico Madrid in their last LaLiga clash. Sergio Asenjo was once again in goal and in front of him, a quartet consisting of Mario Gaspar, Raúl Albiol, Pau Torres and Alfonso Pedraza, who replaced Pervis Estupiñán.

In midfield, more familiar faces with Vicente Iborra in the pivot role and Dani Parejo and Manu Trigueros ahead of him. Finally, Moi Gómez and Samuel Chukwueze manned the flanks – with the former replacing the injured Gerard Moreno while Paco Alcácer was deployed upfront.

Villarreal were in a 4-1-4-1 formation.

Javier Gracia, on the other hand, made more changes. Jaume Doménech was, of course, between the sticks but we saw some movement in the backline. José Gayá, Mouctar Diakhaby and Thierry Correia retained their places but Gabriel Paulista returned in the lineup ahead of Hugo Guillamón.

Carlos Soler and Daniel Wass were the central midfielders, the former replacing the injured Geoffrey Kondogbia, while Álex Blanco and the young Yunus Musah slotted out wide. Gonçalo Guedes and Maxi Gómez formed the striker partnership up top.

Valencia were