What Villarreal gain from Gerard Moreno’s return against Elche | OneFootball

Gerard Moreno will return for Villarreal against Elche on Sunday at La Cerámica, kick-off 14.00. According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, head coach Marcelino García Toral confirmed the No 7 will be available.

His last outing came on 31 January at El Sadar, where his brace salvaged a valuable point. Villarreal have missed his ability to receive, turn and set the attack in motion.

It remains to be seen if he starts, given his history of muscular issues, or if he is eased in from the bench. He could instead wait on the bench to build rhythm gradually.

Even with recurring problems, his level this season has often been high. He has scored seven in 12 league appearances from the team’s 26, across 730 minutes, making him Villarreal’s third top scorer.

In a notably physical side, with pace and power in midfield from Comesaña or Pape Gueye and out wide from Buchanan or Nicolas Pépé, Moleiro is the exception with link play. Moreno offers a different profile to the other strikers, Mikautadze, Ayoze or Tani.

He improves those around him in ways the numbers miss, regularly unlocking moves with passes few can see. A unique forward who receives, pivots, combines and creates advantages in the final third.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo