Villarreal missed a key opportunity to strengthen their grip on third place in LaLiga after slipping to a disappointing 1-0 defeat against Girona on Monday night.
Marcelino Garcia Toral’s side failed to capitalise on Atletico Madrid’s 2-1 loss to Barcelona over the weekend, delivering an underwhelming performance at Montilivi. The decisive moment came just before half-time, when defender Pau Navarro inadvertently turned Arnau Martinez’s cross into his own net.
Despite remaining third, Villarreal now sit just one point ahead of fourth-placed Atletico, keeping the race for Champions League qualification finely balanced. However, both sides still hold a comfortable advantage, with Real Betis trailing Atletico by 12 points with only eight games remaining.
Frustration was evident at full-time, as Villarreal players Renato Veiga and Gerard Moreno approached travelling supporters to acknowledge their disappointment.
“They weren’t happy, just like us,” captain Moreno told DAZN. “We didn’t manage to get a shot on target, so it’s normal they are unhappy.”
Girona were the sharper side throughout the first half and deserved their lead heading into the break. Villarreal, meanwhile, struggled to create meaningful chances and failed to improve after the restart.
The hosts managed the second half with relative ease, securing a valuable win that lifts them to 12th place — now eight points clear of the relegation zone.
