City U19s fall to narrow UEFA Youth League defeat at Villarreal | OneFootball

City fell to a frustrating 2-1 defeat at Villarreal, ending our winning run in the UEFA Youth League.

Villarreal found themselves two goals to the good before the break. Mauro Roca Martinez gave the hosts the lead before Jose Angel Gaitan Diaz doubled his team’s lead with a clinical finish from the edge of the City box.

In between the two Villarreal goals, Divine Mukasa failed to convert a City penalty.

The number 10 made amends on the hour mark when he slotted home from close range after fantastic footwork inside the Villarreal box.

However, Ben Wilkinson's side were unfortunate not to find a second as our two-game winning run in the League Phase came to an end.

WHAT HAPPENED

Those fans in attendance in eastern Spain basked in the warm Autumnal sun as City’s third League Phase game got underway.

Despite Pablo Polo being the goalkeeper tested the most in the opening exchanges, it was the hosts who took the lead.

Left winger Roca Martinez evaded Dante Headley, who felt he had been fouled in a scrap for the ball, and placed a composed finish into the bottom right corner on 21 minutes.

City had the opportunity to retaliate five minutes later. Reigan Heskey was brought down in the box by Teo Bou Sarrion, and the referee immediately pointed to the spot.

Skipper Justin Oboavwoduo handed the ball to Mukasa, but, the number 10 dragged his penalty wide of the left post.

Wilkinson's young charges then faced an even bigger uphill mountain to climb when Gaitan Diaz doubled Villarreal’s lead from the edge of the City box.

Wilkinson’s side looked determined to put on a stronger performance in the second half, with Villarreal pinned back in their own half for large periods of time.

Our persistence paid off when Mukasa halved the deficit after a fantastic solo run in the opposition's box.

A triple change, which saw Femi Fapetu, Floyd Samba and Matty Warhurst enter the fold, added fresh legs as Villarreal were forced to defend frantically.

Mukasa’s free-kick on the edge of the right corner of the box rattled the crossbar as City continued to push for an equaliser in the final 20 minutes.

It proved to be our best chance to find a second with Villarreal holding on to inflict our first UEFA Youth League defeat in 2025/26.

TEAMS

VILLARREAL XI | Polo, Petterson, Palomares Tari, Rodriguez, Hugo Lopez (Rufs 68’), Adelantado (Vivo Guillamon 79’), Diallo, Gaitan Diaz (Valls 68’), Juan Portela (Albiol 79’), Roca Martinez, Bou Sarrion (Pallares 46’).

SUBS | Mata Flor, Llopis, Traore, Pla Galdon.

CITY XI | Brits, Headley (Dunbar-McDonald 88’), Noble, Mfuni, Braithwaite, Gray (Fapetu 65’), McAidoo, Oboavwoduo (F. Samba 65’), Sangare (Warhurst 65’), Mukasa, R. Heskey.

SUBS | Vickery, Nfonkeu, Miles.

AS A RESULT

After two wins and one defeat, City drop to sixth on goal difference with teams around us still to play in Gameweek Three.

UP NEXT

The focus now turns back to league action. We travel to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday 25 October for our latest PL2 clash, with kick-off scheduled for 11:00 (UK).

The Premier League 2 game will be available to watch live on mancity.com and on the Official Man City App for those with a CITY+ subscription.