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Villarreal ended its 2014-15 campaign on a forgettable note with a 4-0 loss in San Mames today. The home side opened the scoring with a soft penalty after 25 minutes, Aduriz converting it after Jokic had been adjudged to bring him down in the box. Three minutes later, a deft counterattack put Iraiola through to score in his final match for the club.
Villarreal's attack looked as if it was playing with people out of position, as they were; Mario and Jaume Costa on the wings weren't linking up with anyone, and when the ball was lost, Athletic were adept at making quick counters. If there was any doubt about the outcome, it was ended when referee Prieto Iglesias gave Athletic a free kick at the top of our box (even though it was Williams who committed the foul) and Beñat placed a lovely free kick over the wall and past Juan Carlos.
HT Athletic Club 3-0 Villarreal
On the hour mark, Aduriz scored a lovely golazo off the inside of the post to make it 4-0, typical of the way Villarreal's day was going; Athletic's keeper Herrerin had just made a couple of outstanding stops to keep it at 3-0. And that was pretty much it. Sergio Marcos got some playing time, and Aleix Garcia made his first-team debut late on.
FT Athletic Club 4-0 Villarreal
Probably the last official match in yellow for Joel Campbell, also for Chechu Dorado, and maybe for Juan Carlos as well. Hopefully not for Victor Ruiz, who seemed to be the only one in the back four who had a decent game. Not a good way to end the season, but with so many players injured and Vietto and Gio suspended, not a great surprise in some ways either.
Villarreal head off to Australia to play in Adelaide and Brisbane, we'll have to see who is named in the traveling party.
Sixth place, Europa league qualification again, Copa del Rey semis for first time, and some EL success. I'll remember that much more than the match today. Endavant!