Georges Mikautadze was the hero for Villarreal CF at Mestalla, scoring in the 96th minute to secure a dramatic 1-2 derby victory. The win on matchday 10 lifts the Yellow Submarine to eighth place in the standings, with 12 points from three wins, three draws and four losses.
Valencia had taken the lead from the penalty spot in the 38th minute, after a foul on Dani Raba that referee Alejandro Quintero González pointed to. Pepelu, the midfielder from Denia, converted with a low, precise shot. The goal gave balance to the home side's midfield but was not enough to secure the points.
Villarreal's response came in the second half. Alex Freeman, who had come on in the 65th minute, took advantage of a cross from the left by Sergi Cardona to equalise in the 69th. The match seemed headed for a draw until, with the last action of eight minutes of added time, Alberto Moleiro found Mikautadze inside the box. The 25-year-old Georgian striker controlled and shot with his right foot to seal a key win.
Table impact
With these three points, Villarreal now have 12 and sit in mid-table, 15 points behind leaders Barcelona. Marcelino García Toral's team showed character to come back in a tough away game, something they had also done last week at Anfield, where they scored three against Liverpool in the Champions League. The victory at Mestalla ends an inconsistent run of league results, which included a loss to Real Madrid and a home draw with Elche.
The next fixture at the Estadio de la Cerámica is this Friday, 30 October, against Espanyol, a side fighting to get out of the relegation zone. Villarreal will look to use their home advantage and the positive momentum from this derby win to string together a good run before the next international break.
The match at Mestalla was marked by an early setback for Valencia, who lost David Otorbi to a muscle injury in the 15th minute. His replacement, Dani Raba, was key in the action leading to the first goal. For Villarreal, Canadian Tajon Buchanan was substituted in the 87th minute for Pau Navarro, while Ayoze Pérez made way for Mikautadze in the attack. With this goal, the Georgian now has two in his last four official matches.
Background and full detail: El País Deportes
Villarreal CF manager Iñigo Pérez analyzed the win at Mestalla. "It's a fair and deserved victory," the coach stated. Iñigo Pérez highlighted his team's dominance and bravery in seeking the win. Villarreal, tenth with 12 points, now faces the Copa del Rey with enthusiasm following this result.
Valencia manager Javier Aguirre took responsibility for the 1-2 defeat. "Distractions, individual issues, the blame is mine," the coach told Movistar. Aguirre called the result "a very painful defeat" for his team, which is yet to win under him. Villarreal, 10th with 12 points, prepares for its next match against Espanyol.
