UEFA Europa League winners Villarreal started off their season campaign with a frustrating 0-0 draw at their home turf against Granada, as players and manager Unai Emery was tensed with their team’s effort and performance as they failed to score, meanwhile Granada FC gave a great fight to them as it held a pretty heavy contest drawing to the conclusion. Neither of the sides were able to find the net or a breakthrough on the night on the Spanish east coast with the hosts equally frustrated to not pick up the all-important three points based on their excellent overall performance at their home soil.
The Yellow Submarine got to a bright start in the first half as young Spanish star Gerard Mereno could have got himself a goal only to his shots going too wide and some saved by goalkeeper Aaron Escandell Banacloche. Their new summer signing Aissa Mandi’s shot just ended up poking wide and Yeremi Pino was again denied by Aaron Escandell. Escandell was ruthless and amazing in the first half as he continued to be the key man for Robert Moreno’s side before the break as the club’s stand-in stopper produced a key save from Gerard Moreno.
Unai Emery’s side struggled within the initial beginning of the second half as they couldn’t find the intensity after a string of changes after the restart with Manu Trigueros blasted over an excellent chance created with 20 minutes left on the clock at the Estadio de la Ceramica. Villarreal’s chances of scoring a late winner came to a huge blow as Juan Foyth was send off with a red card on the 82nd minute. At the end of the 90th minute, both teams failed to score ending the game with a draw 0-0 full time.
Unai Emery’s Villarreal will take a trip to the newly-promoted team Espanyol this coming week, while Granada welcomes Valencia FC at home this week.
The former Europa League winners posted “Neither side can find a breakthrough and the match at La Ceramica end goalless”.
#VillarrealGranada | 0-0 | ⏱️ 90'+5' | FULL-TIME.
Neither side can find a break through and the match at La Cerámica ends goalless. pic.twitter.com/Fj1ggFFolD
— Villarreal CF English (@VillarrealCFen) August 16, 2021