Cantera Report: B team departure, Ladies’ arrival

Villarreal’s B team drew 1-1 on Sunday with Atletico Saguntino. Villarreal took the lead in the first half before the Romans came back to equalize. The mini-submarine had most of the possession and most of the shots, but couldn’t find a winner.

The big news was the first loss of the season for Mallorca, 2-1 to next-to-bottom Peña Deportiva. However, the islanders had five consecutive draws before that loss, so haven’t won in nearly two months. Mallorca are on 44 points, Villarreal B 40, Cornellà 36, Elche 34, Ontinyent 34, Saguntino 31.

The B team’s next match is on Sunday when we host Ontinyent. We won’t have Franco Acosta with us; the Uruguayan forward has moved to Racing Santander (currently third in their Segunda B group). No details have been made available—he had two goals in 15 games but Poveda and Dalmau were the preferred strike pair.

Villarreal C, meanwhile, are mid-table in their Tercera group, with 31 points. They were off last week but are on a four-match undefeated streak and face CD Roda on the weekend. Levante’s B side currently leads this group on 48 points, with Orihuela (47), Castellón (43), and La Nucía (41) in the playoff places at the moment.

Meanwhile, our women’s first team has been struggling some this season (they’re currently 10th in the table on 19 points, three above the relegation zone) but they enjoyed a 8-0 win over Murcia on the weekend. Poor Murcia have lost all but one of their 15 matches and have only scored 5 goals all season.

And our women’s side have a new signing, Nuría “Mulan” Sanchez. She has played at Castellon, Villarreal (2006-08), CFF Maritim, Valencia (2010-16) and Real Sociedad. She has a degree from the University of Valencia and apart from playing, is involved in various activities encouraging women’s football, including being one of the key organizers of a youth tournament in La Vall d’Uixó last summer. Welcome, Mulan!!