Villarreal CF won their pre-season friendly against Balears FC 2-0 this Thursday. According to the portal Sofascore, the goals in the match, played in Palma, came from Gerard Moreno and Álex Baena in the second half.
The team managed by Marcelino García Toral controlled the game from the start. Although the first half ended goalless, the yellow submarine created several clear chances. Ball possession was overwhelmingly in Villarreal's favour, keeping Balears FC, a team from the Segunda RFEF, practically without serious offensive options for the full 90 minutes.
How did the match unfold?
The first half showed a Villarreal side with intensity but lacking final precision. Gerard Moreno had a shot deflected by the local goalkeeper in the 22nd minute. Shortly after, Yeremy Pino forced a good save from the keeper following a through pass from Dani Parejo. The home team barely managed to cross the halfway line, suffering from the visitors' high press.
Everything changed after the break. In the 52nd minute, Gerard Moreno received a through ball from Álex Baena and finished with a powerful cross-shot. The second goal came in the 67th minute, when Baena took advantage of a rebound inside the area to score with a volley. Villarreal could have increased the lead in the final minutes, with chances for José Luis Morales and Ilias Akhomach, but the scoreline did not change further.
What were the key match statistics?
The match numbers, collected by Sofascore, reflect Villarreal CF's absolute dominance. The yellow team had 74% possession and took 18 shots, with 7 of those on target. In contrast, Balears FC managed only a single shot on target in the entire match. Villarreal was also far superior in completed passes, with 654 attempted and a 92% success rate.
| Team | Possession | Shots | Shots on target | Passes | Pass accuracy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Villarreal CF | 74% | 18 | 7 | 654 | 92% |
| Balears FC | 26% | 3 | 1 | 231 | 79% |
Who were the standout performers?
Gerard Moreno was chosen as the match's most outstanding player by Sofascore, with a rating of 8.2. The forward not only scored the opening goal but was consistent in playmaking. Álex Baena, scorer of the second goal and provider of the assist for the first, received a rating of 7.8. In midfield, Dani Parejo dictated the tempo of the game with a pass accuracy of 94%, according to the match data.
For Balears FC, the goalkeeper was the most active player, making five saves that prevented a more severe result. The local team, which plays in the fourth tier of Spanish football, showed defensive organization but lacked the ability to create danger against a rival of Villarreal's caliber.
What does this result mean for pre-season?
This victory marks the second consecutive friendly win for Villarreal CF, which is looking to fine-tune its fitness ahead of the start of LaLiga. The team has shown defensive solidity in its recent matches, keeping clean sheets. Marcelino García Toral continues to test different setups and rotations, giving minutes to most of the squad.
The team's next commitment is another friendly, scheduled for next Saturday. Fans can follow the squad's progress and check all season data on our stats page. The match against Balears FC served to continue building competitive rhythm and for players like Gerard Moreno to find their best form ahead of the official start. Villarreal CF will play its first league match on August 14th, according to the schedule available on fixtures.
