The impressive Ceramica stadium did not change the Azulgranas’ dynamics away from home, extending our domestic draw run. The clash came to an end just the same way it had begun, but Ziganda’s men secure one more point before the two home games ahead of them in the following weeks.
Ziganda made five changes from Sunday’s match against Zaragoza with Marc Mateu, Ruben Pulido, Kante, Javi Martinez (back from injury), and Juanjo Nieto (debutant) coming in for Jorge Pulido (suspended), Andrei Ratiu (called up for Romania duty) and other players who were not fit to play. However, they managed to control proceedings at the early stages of the encounter, but had to be careful to the rival, who seemed dangerous at all times. Villarreal second team tested Andres for the first time after 16 minutes and, even if it was a shot straight into the arms of the keeper, it spurred the hosts, who gained yards as well as possession little by little. Indeed, in the 24th, Villarreal B were denied only by an outstretched Andres, who turned the clearest chance until then aside for a corner. Ziganda had already told us about the hosts’ ability to carve out good chances at the press conference ahead of the game. Nevertheless, SD Huesca managed to edge the rival before the interval.
‘Cuco’ opted for a half-time substitution (Juan Carlos Real replaced Kante) as the Azulgranas needed to play a direct, fluid game, but the first second-half chance fell to a man in yellow, as Andres denied Sergio Lozano with an incredible reflex save from close range to preserve the clean sheet. The hosts pushed on and Andres managed to pull off another wonderful save, pushing away a shot from the six-yard area with one hand. The Azulgranas struggled to win the ball back as both sides went for the crucial winner, so Ziganda made a triple change, bringing on Enzo Lombardo, Cristian Salvador and Gerard Valentin for Javi Martinez, Juanjo Nieto and Timor. His side proved to be more composed, venturing forward by means of Enzo Lombardo in the first time he touched the ball, shooting from the area. But in that tit-for-tat battle, Villarreal felt brutal. After four minutes of stoppage time, the game ended while no team could celebrate a goal.
