Boasting little over 20% possession at the break, the stats may have stacked against relegation candidates Mallorca, yet surprisingly the scoreline ruled in their favour. Netting with their only real sight of goal, Vedat Muriqi’s first-time effort deflected off Villarreal’s Raul Albiol, before trickling beyond Gerónimo Rulli in the hosts’ net.
Despite their lead, Mallorca had been passengers in a first half dominated by the home side. A similar pattern played out in the second period, but it was the visitors who once again struck gold. Walloping a dipping volley into the top left corner, substitute Amath Ndiaye Diedhiou had barely touched the ball, before striking an immediate goal-of-the-season contender.
As far as Villarreal were concerned, it hadn’t been for a lack of trying. Samuel Chukwueze, who is still without a La Liga goal so far this season, struck the crossbar with a curling left-footed strike prior to Mallorca’s second - a moment which epitomised the general frustrations for a desperate Villarreal.
He may have been in charge for less than 15 days, but chants of “Quique go now” could be heard ringing around Villarreal’s temporary home at the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia, with the former Barcelona boss likely having just two matches before the FIFA World Cup to save his job.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Vedat Muriqi (Mallorca)
