Mikautadze bites at the Ciutat de València (0-1) | OneFootball

With a solitary strike from the Georgian forward, Villarreal claimed a hard fought derby win and climbed to third place in LALIGA EA Sports.

Villarreal seized their chance at the Ciutat de València (0-1). The Yellows won the derby and picked up three precious points from the postponed clash against Levante. Thanks to Mikautadze’s lone goal, the Submarine made the most of their extra opportunity and move up to third place with 48 points in LALIGA EA Sports.

After the narrow defeat in Getafe (2-1), the Submarine had to turn their focus to the rearranged fixture against Levante, corresponding to Matchday 16 of LALIGA EA Sports. The game had originally been scheduled for 14th December but could not be played due to a weather alert.

With notable absences such as Parejo and Gerard, in addition to long term injuries, Marcelino opted to make several changes from the last league encounter. Only five players kept their place from the starting XI at the Coliseum: Luiz Júnior, Mouriño, Pau Navarro, Gueye and Pepe. The line up was completed by Rafa Marín, Cardona, Moleiro, Comesaña, Mikautadze and Ayoze.

The first half was defined by balance and defensive solidity from both sides, who were compact at the back and lacked attacking fluency. The opening half hour produced very little in the way of clear chances. For Levante, a ball into the box was intercepted by Marín and the loose ball drifted just wide of Luiz Júnior’s goal, while the Yellows’ only real threat came from a dangerous Mikautadze cross that Ryan pushed behind for a corner.

From the 30 minute mark, the game began to open up. Villarreal grew into the match and created two chances to break the deadlock. First, Moleiro glanced a header against the post. Then, five minutes before the break, Ayoze struck a half volley from Pepe’s cross on the right, but his effort was too central and comfortably saved by Ryan.

Unlike the opening 45 minutes, the second half quickly produced chances for both teams. Pape Gueye tried his luck from the edge of the area but fired wide, and shortly afterwards Luiz Júnior denied Paco Cortés with an outstanding save. The Levante forward cut inside and curled a shot towards the top corner that seemed destined for the net until the Brazilian goalkeeper intervened.

The tempo continued to rise as both sides committed more bodies forward. Levante began to send crosses into the box searching for Espí, while Villarreal worked tirelessly to clear every delivery. It was Marcelino’s side, however, who found the breakthrough before the hour mark.

The Yellows launched a swift transition with a through ball into space for Mikautadze. The Georgian reached the area and squared for Pepe after rounding Ryan. Instead of shooting, the Ivorian forward returned the ball to the number nine, who slotted home to make it 0-1 at the Ciutat de València. A moment of brilliance from the forwards put Villarreal ahead.

As the clock ticked down, Levante’s urgency grew and they pushed forward in search of an equaliser, leaving space in behind. Mikautadze nearly took advantage once again. His close range effort, after Ryan had parried a Pedraza shot, was cleared off the line to prevent the second goal.

Five minutes from time, Pepe had another chance to seal it. He controlled a pass in behind, shaped to shoot and fired over the bar.

Villarreal held firm in the closing stages against a Levante side with plenty at stake at the Ciutat de València. With intelligence and defensive solidity, Marcelino’s men secured three crucial points to sit third outright in LALIGA EA Sports.