Villarreal beat Arsenal 2-1 on Thursday at Estadio de la Cerámica for the first leg of the UEFA Europa League semi-finals. The Spanish team began to dominate with goals from Manu Trigueros (5th) and Raúl Albiol (29th) but Nicolas Pépé reduced for the English to 73rd from a penalty to put the series on hold. The “Yellow Submarine” will have to defend its favorable result in the return match next Thursday, May 6 in London. Midfielder Trigueros opened the scoring for Villarreal 5 minutes into the first half with a good shot, while in the 29th minute center-back Raúl Albiol took advantage of a corner kick to bring the score to 2-0 and go to halftime like that. The Ivorian Nicolás Pépé scored a penalty 73 ‘to keep the hope of the’ Gunners’. The English team found themselves with 10 players after Dani Ceballos was sent off at 57 ‘for a double yellow. The Spanish team were not far behind and also suffered the red from Frenchman Etienne Capoue for a double yellow at 79 ‘. After the treatment in the first half, the result is a bit bitter for the Spaniards, as they seemed to have it under control. In the second leg in England, the team that will go to the final in Poland will be set against the winner of the match between Manchester United and Rome (the English beat 6-2 in Manchester). Won and it’s a good result, but seeing how the game went we should have killed them. I can’t say if we fell asleep or describe what happened, ”said Trigueros, who scored Villarreal’s first goal. For his part, Spanish Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta said: “We are sad to lose the game, it was not the result we were looking for, but knowing the history of the game we have to be satisfied. . ” Villarreal: Gerónimo Rulli – Juan Foyth (Mario 70), Raúl Albiol (cap), Pau Torres, Alfonso Pedraza (Alberto Moreno 80) – Samuel Chukwueze, Manuel Trigueros (Moisés 80), Daniel Parejo, Etienne Capoue – Gerard, Paco Alcácer ( Francis Coquelin) 46). DT: Unai Emery. Arsenal: Bernd Leno – Calum Chambers, Rob Holding (cap), Pablo Mari Villar, Granit Xhaka – Thomas, Dani Ceballos, Martin Ødegaard (Gabriel Martinelli 63), Bukayo Saka (Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 85), Nicolas Pepe (Willian 90+ 5) – Emile Smith-Rowe (Mohamed Elneny 90 + 5). DT: Mikel Arteta. Referee: Artur Soares Dias (POR). Stadium: Estadio de la Cerámica (Villarreal). Data sheet source: AFP.
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