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Villarreal vs Athletic Bilbao - 13.02.2010

Drama as Villarreal defeat Bilbao

Juan Carlos Garrido celebrated a 2-1 victory in his first home match in charge of Villarreal amid late drama against Athletic Bilbao at El Madrigal.

Garrido oversaw a 1-0 defeat at Real Mallorca last week but it was a different story here thanks to first-half goals from Joan Capdevila and Nilmar.

Igor Gabilondo had drawn Athletic level but the goals were only half the story as Andoni Iraola missed a late penalty for the visitors before three players and one coach saw red.

Javi Martinez and Diego Godin both went after a clash and, in the ensuing chaos, both benches got involved and Athletic coach Joaquin Caparros was also sent to the stands.

Frustration then got the better of Pablo Orbaiz, who was dismissed after reacting with fury to what he perceived was an over-reaction to his challenge by Ariel Ibagaza.

Villarreal were boosted by the presence of Capdevila and goalkeeper Diego Lopez, who were major fitness doubts ahead of the game.

And Capdevila made his presence felt after only five minutes. The left-back played a lovely one-two with David Fuster and, when Robert Pires dummied the return, Capdevila kept his composure to lift the ball into the top of the net.

Athletic have struggled away from home since the turn of the year, losing three of their four matches before this, but they would have felt hard done by having begun the match brightly.

Fernando Llorente was proving a handful and he got away down the left but his cross was pushed away by Lopez with Oscar De Marcos lurking.

And in the 24th minute Bilbao drew level. There looked little danger when Igor Gabilondo picked up possession in the left channel but he was not closed down and his scorching effort from 25 yards flew past Lopez.

Llorente broke down the left again moments later and this time it was Fuster back defending who saved his team when Carlos Gurpegi looked set for a tap-in.

Another Llorente break was then wrongly halted by an offside flag while the Athletic striker would have been disappointed to stab wide from only a couple of yards after a corner fell for him.

And just before the break Nilmar showed how it should be done with a clinical run and finish from Ruben Cani's smart through ball.

The opening stages of the second half brought only half chances for both teams, with Gonzalo Rodriguez grateful to see his interception roll just wide of the post while Nilmar twice went close for Villarreal.

Javi Martinez should have equalised when he gambled on a free-kick being flicked on but his touch was too heavy and Lopez's punch then ricocheted off the midfielder but dropped just wide.

The lively Nilmar saw his shot well saved by Iraizoz after a flowing move but it looked like Villarreal's night would end in disappointment when Javi Venta was penalised for a trip on substitute Iker Muniain in the area.

But Lopez came to his team-mate's aid with a decent save from Iraola's poor penalty.

The match took an ugly turn heading into injury time when Javi Martinez and Godin clashed. The Athletic played was shown a straight red for leading with his elbow while Godin's reaction, where he dug his studs into his opponent's back, saw him also given his matching orders.

After Caparros had also taken his leave and order restored, Athletic were reduced to nine men following Orbaiz's crazy reaction.

Athletic remain two points behind Deportivo La Coruna in the final European place, while Villarreal closed to within four of their opponents.

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