Villarreal vs Elche Highlights and Goals

La Liga

1:00 PMMarch 8, 2026

Regular Season - 27

Villarreal

Show Score

2 - 1

HT:(2 - 0)

Elche

Estadio de la Ceramica

Referee: Victor Garcia Verdura, Spain

How did the teams perform?

Villarreal

World Class 0 Solid 0 Bang Average 0 Lucky 0 Shocking 0

0 Total Votes

Elche

World Class 0 Solid 0 Bang Average 0 Lucky 0 Shocking 0

Match Stats Lineups Head-2-Head Standings

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Match Stats

Ball possession

37%

63%

1.62

Expected goals (xG)

1.29

0.00

Goals Prevented

0.00

Attack

16

Total shots

13

7

Shots on target

6

6

Shots off target

6

3

Blocked shots

1

12

Shots inside box

9

4

Shots outside box

4

4

Corner kicks

6

1

Offsides

1

Passing

354

Total passes

604

280 (79%)

Accurate passes

527 (87%)

Discipline

11

Fouls

16

1

Yellow cards

2

0

Red cards

0

6

Goalkeeper saves

5

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Lineup

Villarreal

4-4-2

1 G Luiz Júnior 7.6

23 D Sergi Cardona 6.7

4 D Rafa Marín 7.0

6 D Pau Navarro 7.2

15 D Santiago Mouriño 41' 7.9

20 M Alberto Moleiro 43' Tripping 6.7

18 M Pape Gueye 31' 7.7

14 M Santi Comesaña (C) 41' 7.0

17 M Tajon Buchanan 31' 7.9

9 F Georges Mikautadze 6.7

19 F Nicolas Pépé 7.2

Substitutes

11 F Alfon González 65' Replaced by T. Buchanan 6.5

7 F Gerard Moreno 65' Replaced by A. Moleiro 6.2

12 M Renato Veiga 76' Replaced by P. Navarro 6.3

10 M Dani Parejo 75' Replaced by S. Comesana 6.6

16 M Thomas Partey 75' Replaced by P. Gueye 6.5

25 G Arnau Tenas

24 D Alfonso Pedraza

3 D Alexander Freeman

21 F Tani Oluwaseyi

Coach

Marcelino

Elche

3-5-2

1 G Matías Dituro (C) 7.2

21 D Léo Pétrot 7.0

22 D David Affengruber 6.9

23 D Víctor Chust 6.3

11 M Germán Valera 7.2

14 M Aleix Febas 6.7

8 M Marc Aguado 6.6

19 M Grady Diangana 6.2

42 M Buba Sangare 6.3

10 F Rafa Mir 6.2

20 F Álvaro Rodriguez 6.3

Substitutes

32 F Adam Boayar

15 F Tete Morente

24 F Lucas Cepeda

3 D Adrià Pedrosa

6 D Pedro Bigas

13 G Iñaki Peña

45 G Alejandro Iturbe

9 F André Silva 83' 90+6' Unsportsmanlike conduct 77' Replaced by R. Mir 7.3

17 M Josan 68' Replaced by Buba Sangare 6.7

12 M Gonzalo Villar 68' Replaced by A. Febas 6.6

5 M Federico Redondo 68' Replaced by M. Aguado 6.7

16 M Martim Neto 74' Roughing 83' 59' Replaced by G. Diangana 7.9

Coach

Eder Sarabia

La Liga Standings - Primera División

TotalHomeAway

Pos	Team	MP	W	D	L	+/-	GD	Pts	Form
1	Barcelona	26	21	1	4	71-26	45	64	W 07 February: Barcelona 3 - 0 Mallorca W No match found L No match found W 28 February: Barcelona 4 - 1 Villarreal W 07 March: Athletic Club 0 - 1 Barcelona
2	Real Madrid	25	19	3	3	54-21	33	60	W 08 February: Valencia 0 - 2 Real Madrid W 14 February: Real Madrid 4 - 1 Real Sociedad W No match found W No match found L No match found
3	Atletico Madrid	26	15	6	5	43-23	20	51	D No match found L 15 February: Rayo Vallecano 3 - 0 Atletico Madrid L No match found W 28 February: Oviedo 0 - 1 Atletico Madrid W 07 March: Atletico Madrid 3 - 2 Real Sociedad
4	Villarreal	26	16	3	7	48-31	17	51	W No match found L No match found W 22 February: Villarreal 2 - 1 Valencia W No match found L No match found
5	Real Betis	26	11	10	5	42-32	10	43	W 08 February: Atletico Madrid 0 - 1 Real Betis W 15 February: Mallorca 1 - 2 Real Betis W No match found D 01 March: Real Betis 2 - 2 Sevilla D No match found
6	Celta Vigo	26	10	10	6	36-28	8	40	D No match found L No match found D No match found W 01 March: Girona 1 - 2 Celta Vigo W No match found
7	Espanyol	26	10	6	10	33-39	-6	36	L 30 January: Espanyol 1 - 2 Alaves L 09 February: Villarreal 4 - 1 Espanyol D 14 February: Espanyol 2 - 2 Celta Vigo L 21 February: Atletico Madrid 4 - 2 Espanyol D 01 March: Elche 2 - 2 Espanyol
8	Real Sociedad	26	9	8	9	38-38	0	35	D No match found W No match found L No match found D No match found W No match found
9	Athletic Club	26	10	5	11	30-36	-6	35	D No match found W 15 February: Oviedo 1 - 2 Athletic Club W 20 February: Athletic Club 2 - 1 Elche W No match found D No match found
10	Osasuna	26	9	6	11	30-30	0	33	D No match found W No match found D No match found W No match found L No match found
11	Sevilla	26	8	6	12	34-41	-7	30	L No match found D 14 February: Sevilla 1 - 1 Alaves D No match found W No match found D 08 March: Sevilla 1 - 1 Rayo Vallecano
12	Girona	26	7	9	10	27-42	-15	30	L No match found D No match found W No match found D No match found L No match found
13	Valencia	26	7	8	11	27-39	-12	29	L 08 February: Valencia 0 - 2 Real Madrid L No match found W No match found L No match found W 08 March: Valencia 3 - 2 Alaves
14	Getafe	25	8	5	12	20-29	-9	29	D No match found D No match found W No match found W 02 March: Real Madrid 0 - 1 Getafe L No match found
15	Rayo Vallecano	25	6	9	10	23-32	-9	27	L No match found L No match found W No match found D No match found D 08 March: Sevilla 1 - 1 Rayo Vallecano
16	Alaves	26	7	6	13	23-34	-11	27	W No match found L No match found D 23 February: Alaves 2 - 2 Girona D No match found L 08 March: Valencia 3 - 2 Alaves
17	Elche	26	5	11	10	34-39	-5	26	L 07 February: Real Sociedad 3 - 1 Elche L No match found D No match found L No match found D No match found
18	Mallorca	26	6	6	14	29-42	-13	24	W No match found L 15 February: Mallorca 1 - 2 Real Betis L 22 February: Celta Vigo 2 - 0 Mallorca L 28 February: Mallorca 0 - 1 Real Sociedad L No match found
19	Levante	26	5	6	15	28-44	-16	21	L 15 February: Levante 0 - 2 Valencia L 18 February: Levante 0 - 1 Villarreal L 22 February: Barcelona 3 - 0 Levante L No match found W No match found
20	Oviedo	25	3	8	14	16-40	-24	17	L No match found W No match found L No match found D No match found L 04 March: Rayo Vallecano 3 - 0 Oviedo

Qualification/Relegation

• Promotion - Champions League (League phase)
• Promotion - Europa League (League phase)
• Promotion - Conference League (Qualification)
• Relegation - LaLiga2

Villarreal held off a late Elche comeback to clinch a vital 2-1 home victory in La Liga, with first-half goals proving crucial.

Villarreal secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Elche at the Estadio de la Ceramica. First-half goals from Tajon Buchanan and Santiago Mouriño ultimately decided the contest, despite a late Elche resurgence.

The Yellow Submarine entered the match in strong form, sitting fourth in La Liga with 51 points. Elche, meanwhile, occupied 17th position, struggling for consistency. This fixture was crucial for both teams’ differing league ambitions.

The home side showed early intent, pushing for an opener. Elche focused on defensive solidity, attempting to absorb Villarreal’s pressure. Villarreal’s attackers probed the Elche backline relentlessly.

Villarreal broke the deadlock in the 31st minute. Pape Gueye delivered an excellent pass from midfield. Tajon Buchanan then expertly slotted the ball home, sending the home crowd into celebration.

Elche tried to respond, but Villarreal quickly extended their advantage. In the 41st minute, Santi Comesaña provided a precise assist. Santiago Mouriño guided the ball into the net, giving Villarreal a comfortable two-goal cushion.

Just before the halftime whistle, Villarreal’s A. Moleiro received a yellow card in the 43rd minute for a tactical foul. This caution highlighted the growing intensity of the match. Villarreal went into halftime firmly in control.

At halftime, Elche faced a significant challenge, needing a strong second-half performance to salvage a result. Villarreal aimed to maintain their two-goal lead and secure all three points.

The second half began with Elche showing increased urgency and making several substitutions around the hour mark. They sought to inject fresh attacking impetus into their play. Villarreal also made tactical changes.

Villarreal substituted goalscorer Buchanan and Moleiro in the 65th minute, bringing on fresh legs. Elche also introduced four players in quick succession, including striker Andre Silva, determined to find a way back.

Elche’s persistence finally paid off in the 83rd minute. Substitute Martim Neto provided a crucial assist, expertly setting up Andre Silva. Silva then fired a shot past the goalkeeper, reducing the deficit and creating a tense finish.

The final minutes saw Elche press hard for an equalizer, pouring forward. Villarreal’s defense held firm under increasing pressure. Andre Silva received a yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct deep into stoppage time, capping a frantic end.

Villarreal finished with 16 total shots and 7 on target, recording an Expected Goals (xG) of 1.62. Elche, despite holding 63% possession, managed 13 shots with 6 on target and an xG of 1.29. Villarreal goalkeeper Luiz Júnior made 6 vital saves.

This hard-fought 2-1 victory solidified Villarreal’s position in fourth place, boosting their Champions League qualification hopes. Elche’s struggles continue, leaving them precariously close to the La Liga relegation zone.