Gerard Moreno scored a penalty on his 300th appearance for Villarreal CF and Santi Comesaña sealed a 2-0 win for the team at Mestalla on 25 October 2025. The victory in the tenth round of La Liga provided a major boost for a side that currently sits 12th in the table with 9 points from nine games, having recorded two wins, three draws and four losses.
The match was a tough prospect, with Valencia arriving as the third-placed team. Villarreal showed character from the start. Moreno, on a special day for him, did not miss from the spot. Santi Comesaña, in his own words, rounded off the job in the 57th minute to continue cementing third place. The win broke the pattern of draws in recent meetings at Mestalla, where the recent record showed two draws, one win for Valencia and one for the Yellow Submarine.
The side managed by Marcelino García Toral lined up with Junior, Mouriño, Foyth, Renato Veiga and Cardona in defence. In midfield, Pape Gueye and Comesaña provided solidity, while Moleiro and Gerard Moreno created danger. Mikautadze, who recently scored in the 4-3 defeat to Liverpool, led the initial attack. Valencia, meanwhile, featured Agirrezabala in goal and a defensive block of Thierry, Copete, Tárrega and captain Gayà. The local midfield was formed by Hugo Duro, Javi Guerra and Diego López, with André Almeida and Peter Federico on the wings.
The result was a turning point last season and serves as a reference for the upcoming fixture. Villarreal face Valencia again this Saturday 24 October, at a Mestalla where the home side now sits 19th in the standings. In the last meeting between the two, on 22 February, the yellows won 2-1 at the Estadio de la Cerámica. That match was officiated by referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, who showed six yellow cards.
With this positive memory, Villarreal approach the new visit to Mestalla after an irregular start to the current campaign, having scored 13 and conceded 13 goals. Their recent league form reads two wins, one draw and two losses from the last five matches, including the 0-0 draw with Elche and the 3-1 win over Levante. The team needs to pick up points consistently to close the 18-point gap to leaders Barcelona. Last year's win at Mestalla proved the team can triumph in difficult venues, a spirit that will need to be replicated. The upcoming match will be refereed by Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz.
Background and full detail: plazadeportiva.valenciaplaza.com
