Villarreal Wins Derby Against Valencia and Maintains Third Position in LaLiga

Villarreal CF secured three points in the local derby, defeating Valencia CF at the Estadio de la Cerámica with a score of 2-1. Goals for the hosts were scored by Pape Gueye and Santi Comesaña, allowing coach Marcelino García Toral's team to consolidate their third place in the LaLiga EA Sports table. LaLiga Valencia, despite some improvement after halftime and chances created by Arnaut Danjuma and Umar Sadiq, failed to equalize. The rivals are separated by just 60 kilometers, and the derby between the provinces of Castellón and Valencia is one of the hottest fixtures in the Spanish football calendar. Villarreal, a club from a city of about 50,000 inhabitants, is one of the greatest successes of modern football, winning the Europa League in 2021. In another important match of the round, Sevilla FC won a league away game for the first time since September 2025. The players of Matías Almeyda, who had to watch the match from the stands due to suspension, defeated Getafe CF 1-0 at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez. Sevilla's players dedicated this victory to their coach, emphasizing their support for him during a difficult period. The appellate court's decision, which upheld the seven-match ban for Almeyda, proved to be final. [{"strona1": "Villarreal CF", "strona2": "Valencia CF", "wynik1": 2, "wynik2": 1}, {"strona1": "Sevilla FC", "strona2": "Getafe CF", "wynik1": 1, "wynik2": 0}, {"strona1": "Real Betis", "strona2": "Rayo Vallecano", "wynik1": 1, "wynik2": 1}] In Seville, an exciting match between Real Betis and Rayo Vallecano also took place, ending in a 1-1 draw. However, the match was marred by long interruptions due to interventions by VAR. In the first controversial incident, referee Martínez Munuera, after consulting with video assistant González Fuertes, ruled that Nabil Mendy's foul on Cucho Hernández occurred outside the penalty area. The second, in the 86th minute, involved a clash between Valentín Gómez and Andrei Ratiu, which also was not deemed a penalty. Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini criticized VAR's operation after the match, saying that „"Me ha parecido que el VAR intervino muy mal, sin necesidad. El partido duró 104 minutos por dos situaciones que no requerían tanto tiempo de revisión."” — Manuel Pellegrini. The draw ended Betis's streak of three consecutive victories. [QUOTE_1] In the Segunda División, UD Almería defeated Córdoba CF 2-1, ending their streak of three consecutive victories. Defensive errors by the visitors in the first half, exploited by Miguel de la Fuente and Álex Muñoz, were crucial. Despite Córdoba's reaction after halftime and a consolation goal, the three points remained in Almería. In the second division table, a fierce battle continues for promotion and playoff spots. Meanwhile, in Getafe, coach José Bordalás can count on his player Juan Iglesias remaining at the club next season as well, confirmed by sporting director Antonio Cordón. prawda: Match results confirmed: Villarreal 2-1 Valencia, Sevilla 1-0 Getafe, Betis 1-1 Rayo, and Almería 2-1 Córdoba. Information about Almeyda's ban and VAR interventions is consistent across multiple sources. (LaLiga, kluby) Thus, another LaLiga round solidified the top three, where Villarreal has increasing chances of playing in the Champions League. Sevilla, although still close to the relegation zone, breathed a sigh of relief after a long-awaited triumph on foreign soil. Meanwhile, the controversies surrounding VAR in the Betis match show that technology still sparks heated debates in Spanish football, affecting the course and duration of matches.