Villarreal CF are having a great La Liga season, sitting in fourth place, tied on points with Atlético Madrid at 54.
However, they had a very poor UCL season, finishing 35th out of 36 with one point in eight matches.
This was their first European competition since 2023/2024, so it definitely had some changes they had to get used to, which they couldn’t manage.
In this Villarreal tactical analysis, we are going to look at Villarreal CF and their issues in the Champions League, and what they need to improve to make further runs in European competitions under Marcelino García Toral.
Marcelino walked into the club on 13th November 2023.
Villarreal were sitting in 14th place in La Liga at the time, having won just three of their first 13 league games.
He has now been in charge for 110 games with an average of 1.71 points per match.
His longest stint before this was also at Villarreal (2013-2016), managing 177 matches and earning 1.72 points per match.
He’s on pace to beat his previous PPM with this new stint at the club.
Villarreal Lack Of Intensity
A major problem that held Villarreal back in this year’s UCL campaign was failing to adjust their tactics to a new competition.
As we see here, they keep their 4-4-2 block, but it’s in a form that they would use vs La Liga teams, while it should be adjusted for UCL-level teams.
Like we see here, the three Bayer Leverkusen players in red have lots of room at the top of the box should they receive the ball, while you have two Villarreal players, the two strikers, staying in a counterattack position.
Now, this works in La Liga, where the intensity may not be as high and, if they do win the ball back, the counterattack will be dangerous, but in the UCL, you need to adapt.
Those two Villarreal strikers should be covering the space the three Leverkusen players occupy, even if it means sacrificing a potential counterattack.
The lack of intensity is showing here.
We see again the lack of intensity in tracking back.
Two opponents are about to enter the Villarreal box, but the Villarreal players are yards behind.
An easy cutback sets up a goalscoring opportunity.
We know a lack of intensity is an issue, but pairing it with lapses in defensive structure is a recipe for disaster.
Like we see here, the Villarreal mid-block leaves a gap in behind.
No centre back sees this and tries to push the line higher, and the other midfielders in the second line don’t notice it either.
The opponent has all the time in the world to pick their pass, break through the line, and start their attack, but if you look at the Villarreal strikers, they need to be shutting it down faster.
If you are going to prioritise a 4-4-2, you need to decide: are you going to have your two strikers chase the ball around, leaving you outnumbered in midfield, or are you going to have them cut passing lanes and keep your midfield compact?
This looks like a mix of both, trying to keep the midfield compact and have two strikers run nonstop.
You can’t have it both ways.
Villarreal Structural Issues In Build-Up
Another issue that caused Villarreal problems in the UCL this season is their build-up tactics.
Oftentimes, they are committing too many players high up the pitch because they are looking to go long and not risk losing the ball while in the build-up.
There are many issues related to this.
A build-up tactic that is reliant on long balls and numbers forward to win the first or second ball is not going to be consistent.
Another issue is that they may not have the technical personnel to have the confidence in build-up in the UCL just yet, which we will touch on later.
We can see it again closer to the halfway line.
Look at the space in the middle, there’s no Villarreal player there moving into space, looking to be their deep-lying playmaker.
The players are higher up the pitch, looking to move wide to send in crosses or go long in behind.
The opponent is controlling the midfield.
There needs to be an anchor in the team who is confident in taking the ball in that midfield zone and either breaking the line or playing as a ball carrier.
Villarreal Inconsistent Attacking Strategy
Now we see the effects of a lack of midfield cohesion in build-up.
When you’re trying to enter the attacking phase, your only options are crosses and long balls, as we see here.
Again, we see this, but from out wide.
There is no interest in cutting back into midfield or switching the play; it’s just go forward, long ball.
This is very inconsistent.
Now, don’t get me wrong: not every attack needs five minutes of build-up play behind it, but if you’re only looking for long balls constantly, it won’t be consistent.
Villarreal Defensive Transitions
The worst type of situation to be in during defensive transition is when you are running towards your own net with your back to the opponent’s net.
In defensive transition, you want a portion of your players with their backs to their own net facing the opponent’s net.
When you are running backwards, you are in trouble.
As we see here in the defensive transition, we have three Ajax players being picked up by no one because the Villarreal squad is looking to track back and can’t maintain any structure.
Now, the attackers aren’t outnumbering the defence, but the entire back line is once again running toward their own net.
Very poor defensive transition to be caught out like this this high up the pitch.
Villarreal Squad Depth
Part of the reason they may not be playing at the highest level in the UCL could simply be that they lack the quality of players, not a managerial issue, but a board issue.
They have a total value of €256m for their entire 28-man squad.
They have some great potential in their core, like Renato Veiga as the CB with Rafa Marín, if they can keep him from the loan spell.
Alberto Moleiro and Tajon Buchanan in attack is not a bad core.
What they certainly need is new, young, fresh midfielders and to let go of their ageing midfield.
Finishing in the top 4 will surely secure the club some big financial room to spend in this summer window, and midfield players should be the top priority here.
Possible Villarreal Midfield Signings
Marc Bernal is a young holding midfielder who can bring stability to their defensive shape.
It may be hard to get him on a permanent signing, but a loan is very doable.
Unai Gómez is a young midfielder with excellent vision and technical ability, adding a strong core to that midfield that needs changing.
Conclusion
Overall, finishing in the top four is great for the club this season, and Marcelino García Toral is doing a great job in La Liga this year.
I wouldn’t blame these issues on him from the UCL season; part of it is due to a lack of player quality, but there are some structural mistakes he has made that we have looked at above.
If they can finish above Atletico Madrid and reach the top three, that will definitely shock many people, but they desperately need to be active in the midfield market this summer and reinforce their squad.
