Gerard Moreno, Villarreal’s penalty king: who completes the all-time ranking? | OneFootball

According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, Gerard Moreno remains Villarreal’s first-choice from the spot under Iñigo Pérez, yet this season has already shown reliable alternatives. The club are three from three in penalties.

The captain converted the opener of the campaign against Atlético de Madrid. With the game at 1-1 he handed the ball to Mikautadze, who scored. The third, at La Rosaleda, was tucked away by Pape Gueye.

In La Liga history, Villarreal have taken 166 penalties, scoring 137 and missing 29, an 82.53% success rate. Gerard leads the list with 22 from 27. He also converted in the shootouts in Gdansk against Manchester United and in Belfast against Chelsea.

Behind him come Juan Román Riquelme on 16 from 18 and Giuseppe Rossi on 13 from 17, a combined 51 goals. Bruno Soriano struck 11 of 12 and Santi Cazorla 10 of 11, both above 90%. Dani Parejo added eight from 11.

The perfect-record table is headed by Víctor Fernández with seven from seven. Manolo Alfaro posted six from six and Jorge López five from five, while Danjuma finished four from four and Diego Forlán three from three.

Spot-kicks have brought pain and glory in Europe. In 2006 Riquelme missed a penalty to force extra time in the Champions League semi-final against Arsenal, Jens Lehmann saving and leaving Villarreal short of the final. Fifteen years later in Gdansk, all 10 outfield players for each side scored before Gerónimo Rulli beat David de Gea then saved his kick to clinch the Europa League.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo

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