Elche CF clung on for a point away at Villarreal after a goalless draw in the ninth round of La Liga. This result, repeating the scoreline from their last meeting on Saturday 17 October, leaves the Ilicitanos 18th in the standings with seven points from one win, four draws and four losses over their nine games. Goalkeeper Matías Dituro was the hero for the Ilicitanos, who resisted the home side's dominance and numerous chances created by Iñigo Pérez's team.
Villarreal, coming off a Champions League win over Napoli, controlled the ball with 57% possession and generated 20 attempts on goal. However, they found an inspired Dituro in their way. The keeper had already stopped a close-range effort from Tani Oluwaseyi in the 8th minute. Shortly after, referee García Verdura awarded a penalty to Elche for a challenge by Moleiro on Revivo, but the decision was overturned following a VAR review.
Elche, who sit 18th in the standings with seven points, showed their defensive resolve. Although Villarreal continued to press, with a Moleiro goal disallowed for offside and another big chance for the same player in first-half stoppage time, the scoreline remained unchanged. This point is part of a recent run of one win, three draws and one loss in their last five matches, which includes the draw against Celta Vigo and the win over Espanyol.
Manager's reaction
Villarreal coach Iñigo Pérez acknowledged his team's difficulty in converting their superiority. "Despite dominating the match, Villarreal had to settle for a point against Elche," Pérez explained after the game. "We created situations, but the opposing goalkeeper was immense.
In the second half, Elche dropped deeper looking to secure the draw. Dituro was decisive again with a save from a Saliba shot from the edge of the area in the 77th minute. Striker Fer Niño, Elche's top scorer this season with five goals, had his chance in the 88th with a long-range effort that sailed over the bar. The team has scored eleven goals in total this campaign but has conceded seventeen.
The result gives Elche another point in their battle to climb out of the relegation places, leaving them twenty points behind leaders Barcelona. The Ilicitanos come into this match with just one point from their last nine available, a fact that shows the importance of this draw. Their next fixture is a trip to Vallecas to face Rayo Vallecano on Saturday 24 October. Paco Jémez's side occupies 14th place, setting up another tightly contested duel for vital points. Villarreal, meanwhile, are now unbeaten in four consecutive league matches, though this draw halts their progress up the table.
More detail at villarrealcf.es
