Gerard Moreno broke the deadlock from the penalty spot on 78 minutes before Pau Torres doubled the lead seven minutes later and then Arnaut Danjuma sealed the win from yet another spot-kick in injury time.
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Villarreal head coach Unai Emery was delighted with his side’s performance in the 3-0 win over Juventus in the Champions League round of 16 second leg fixture at Allianz stadium on Wednesday. The win helped the La Liga side to enter the last-8 of Europe’s elite competition with an aggregate score-line of 4-2. Gerard Moreno broke the deadlock from the penalty spot on 78 minutes before Pau Torres doubled the lead seven minutes later and then Arnaut Danjuma sealed the win from yet another spot-kick.
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It was Juventus who started the match brightly as Dusan Vlahovic and Alvaro Morata forced brilliant saves from visiting goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli. The Yellow Submarine were pushed to the back foot and didn’t register a shot on goal for over an over in Turin. However, Daniele Rugani’s mistimed challenge on Francis Coquelin awarded a penalty kick to Villarreal after a VAR intervention. Moreno stepped up and converted the spot-kick.
The goal shifted the momentum in Villarreal’s favour and the game opened up a little bit. The visitors scored their second of the night from a corner kick as the ball fell to Torres in front of goal and the defender slotted home into the net.
Juventus pushed men forward for a goal and left lots of open space at the back. Emery’s side took advantage of the open space and won their second penalty of the night as De Ligt handled the ball inside the box. Danjuma converted the spot-kick in injury time to complete the drubbing.
“These games are always filled with difficulties, our goalkeeper did a great job and we were lucky with the crossbar,” said Emery in his press conference.
“We defended deep, but then stepped up and gained more space, able to pierce a Juventus defence that allows very little. We had patience and did many things right.
“After the opening goal, there were more spaces opening up and we made the most of it in the final 15 minutes.”
Emery is a master in European knockout competition and proved it yet again, having won the Europa League last season.“I am in love with the Europa League, but now I want to enjoy the Champions League. All the past experiences helped, they are in the locker.
“It was important to see today if and how we could eliminate one of the favourites for the competition. It was a special moment and we want to enjoy it. The team knows that in order to do more extraordinary things, they have to study and work harder.”
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