Villarreal and Deportivo La Coruña played out a five-goal thriller at the Estadio de la Cerámica on Saturday evening, with the visitors snatching victory in the dying moments. The final whistle confirmed a 3-2 win for Deportivo in La Liga, Regular Season - 4. and here's the thing — you would not have guessed it from the numbers.
Nicolas Pépé opened the scoring in the 19th minute, firing home from close range after a period of sustained pressure. Deportivo responded before the break when Luismi Cruz equalised in the 43rd, capitalising on a defensive lapse. to be fair the hosts dominated possession but struggled to break down a compact away shape.
The second half started with a flurry of substitutions, six changes between the 62nd and 66th minutes as both managers searched for an edge. Villarreal thought they had taken the lead when Adama Traoré's deflected effort went in at his own end in the 76th minute, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Zakaria Eddahchouri then levelled for Deportivo in the 79th, catching the visitors unaware.
It was supposed to be a draw, by then the intensity had dropped to a comfortable rhythm. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang changed everything in the 88th minute, rising above the defence to head home the winner. Two yellow cards in stoppage time for Lorenzo Amatucci and Yeremay Hernández, but neither could slow the momentum.
Villarreal's statistics tell a different story from the result. They held 62 per cent possession and created three big chances, while the visitors managed just three. Expected goals showed 1.14 against 0.79, yet Deportivo took their moments and made them count.
Both sides sit on five points after four games, Villarreal in 10th and Deportivo in 9th, separated by goal difference. The result extends Deportivo's unbeaten run to three matches and ends Villarreal's hopes of climbing higher.
We had backed the hosts for victory with 85 per cent confidence, but the match went another way. It was not a tactical masterclass, just a reminder that football rarely follows the script.
