With the two teams standing in contrast to each other in the form chart, the first-half stalemate came as a surprise. Villarreal looked to ramp up their pressing game as the interval wore on and created havoc in the Cádiz box, but the Yellow Submarine appeared to leave their missiles back in Castellón. With nearly the last kick of the half, Giovani Lo Celso snatched at a shot from the edge of the box, epitomising the visitors’ wastefulness before the break.
It was much the same after the break, and Villarreal looked set to break their duck on the hour mark when Nicolas Jackson was played in behind the Cádiz defence, but he sent his shot straight into the onrushing keeper. The away side were gifted a chance to snatch all of the points in stoppage time, when Isaac Carcelén was sent off for pulling back Arnaut Danjuma who got in behind the hosts’ defensive line. However, sent his free-kick straight into the wall, ensuring Cádiz’ survival on the day.
With hopes of returning to the UEFA Champions League after reaching the semi-final in dramatic fashion last season, Unai Emery’s men will be frustrated to not secure all three points against a struggling Cádiz side. However, a return of only one loss in their first seven La Liga games sees them still firmly in the race for the top-four.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Jeremias Ledesma (Cádiz)