Villarreal 4-1 Espanyol: Moleiro leads player ratings as winless run ends | OneFootball

Villarreal returned to winning ways with a 4-1 win over Espanyol on Monday, ending a run of five matches without a victory. Espanyol slid to a fourth straight defeat.

According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, Moleiro was the standout with a rating of eight, decisive for the second goal and scorer of the fourth. After half an hour level, Georges Mikautadze broke through, a José Salinas own goal doubled the lead, and Nicolas Pepe and Alberto Moleiro netted within the first 10 minutes of the second half.

Villarreal did not feel the late withdrawal of Gerard Moreno, replaced at the last moment by Buchanan. The back line of Mouriño and Pau Navarro had a largely calm night, with Renato Veiga making a key first-half intervention. Goalkeeper Luiz Júnior was rarely troubled until Cabrera pulled one back from a corner on 88 minutes.

Pepe looked sharper than in months and his strike for the third will settle him. Mikautadze showed a centre-forward's instinct with a finish trickier than it looked.

Pape Gueye and Parejo controlled midfield, and Sergi Cardona stretched play on his flank. Buchanan, drafted in cold, delivered a productive display.

Pepe was marked eight, Mikautadze seven, with Buchanan, Pape Gueye, Parejo, Sergi Cardona, Renato Veiga and Pau Navarro also on seven. Luiz Júnior and Mouriño received six. From the bench, Comesaña, Ayoze and debutant Freeman were marked six, while Oluwaseyi and Hugo López were five.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo