Moleiro Puts Villarreal Back Ahead in 3-1 Win Over Levante

Ayoze scores, Romero answers

Villarreal beat Levante 3-1 on September 20 after a first half that ended level. Ayoze Pérez missed early opportunities before combining with Moleiro in a one-two and scoring in the 41st minute. Levante answered shortly afterward: Iván Romero equalized with an acrobatic finish, sending the teams into halftime tied 1-1.

Moleiro restores the lead

After the restart, Ilias Akhomach set up Moleiro with a backheel, and Moleiro scored to put Villarreal ahead again. Levante made three substitutions shortly after the hour, bringing on Ndukwe, Víctor García and Yanis Musuayi for Mandi, Thiago Fernández and Romero. Midway through the second half, Villarreal brought on Gerard Moreno and Mikautadze together for Akhomach and Ayoze.

Late chances before Mikautadze’s goal

Levante had chances to answer: Toljan’s shot deflected off Mouriño, and Brugué threatened with a header. Gerard Moreno then won the ball, and Moleiro played a pass through for Mikautadze to score in the 86th minute, giving Villarreal a two-goal lead.

In added time, Mathew Ryan saved another close-range Mikautadze effort from Moleiro’s pass, while Musuayi headed wide from Víctor García’s cross. Villarreal finished with 21 shots to Levante’s six, seven shots on target to Levante’s one, and seven big chances to Levante’s two. The match ended 3-1.