A Bruno free kick in the 64th minute gave Villarreal the 1-0 victory over a floundering Valencia side at El Madrigal to cap off 2015 and move them into the final Champions League spot. With another clean sheet, the yellow submarines have held the opposition scoreless without a goal in 360 minutes, which is quite staggering.
Chances go awry for both sides
Roberto Soldado got things going four minutes into the match when he had a left-footed effort go inches wide of the right post. Valencia's only chance of the opening 45 minutes came in the 19th off of a corner. Daniel Parejo whipped in a good cross and managed to find the head of Aymen Abdennour, however, his attempt missed the frame of the goal.
Bruno had a go off a free kick from about 25 yards away. With his left boot, about 23 minutes into the contest, his curling effort did not curl enough went around the far side of the post. Jonathan Dos Santos was involved in two chances down near the latter stages of the opening half. On his first effort, he played a dangerous cross into the eighteen yard box and found Soldado but he could not get a good touch on the delivery. Then Dos Santos had a long range effort barely miss the target.
Bakumbu was clean through on goal, seven minutes after the interval, but he scuffed his effort and it fell weakly into the arms of Jaume. Parejo perhaps had the best chance of the night for the visitors, right before the hour mark, as he had a good look at goal from well outside the area. His attempt, unfortunately, could have found the back of the net if it weren't for the fingertips of Alphonse Areola. On the hour mark, a good ball found Barragan down the right and his pass back towards the middle of the area was hit into row z by Paco Alcacer.
Bruno strike gives Villarreal the lead
There was finally a goal scored in this match and it came four minutes after the hour mark. Earlier, Bruno had just missed a chance to open the scoring off of a free kick. This time, from a little bit closer, the club captain curled his strike beautifully into the far corner of the goal.
Alvaro Negredo had his back to goal and hit a header back into the path of Alcacer, a couple of minutes after Villarreal's goal. Unfortunately, the young striker could not keep his half-volley effort down again.
In the end though, Villarreal had too much quality about them and looked more organized in both the final third and the defensive third of the pitch throughout the entire 90 minutes.
For Valencia, it does not get any easier this weekend as they host Real Madrid at the Mestalla on Sunday. Meanwhile Marcelino will hope his men can continue their fine form into 2016 and will travel to A Coruña to take on Deportivo La Coruña who are also experiencing a fantastic season, which many did not expect.