Spain
La Liga
Saturday 21st December 2019
Kick Off 18.30. On Time!
Villarreal C.F. 1 Getafe C.F. 0, attendance 14,526
52’ 1-0
@ Estádio de la Cerámica
Calle Blasco Ibanez 2
12540 Vila-real
Castello
€25 Admission + €1.75 fees, Print at Home Ticket
2 different Programmes available, both free.
Staying for a few days in Valencia meant an ideal time to head the 40 miles north to the town of Vila-real (note the different spelling to that of the football club) to take in the top division match at Villarreal C.F. It was just under one and a quarter hours by train from Valencia Estacio del Nord and cost €12.40 return. With all the rain back home it felt surreal to get off the train in a nice sunny 25 degrees, even though it was 16.30. It was then a mile walk to the stadium, which is on the far side of the town, but at least it was flat all the way. Tickets had been bought on-line, but there would have been no problem buying tickets on the night, as this was their lowest league crowd of the season and there were plenty of gaps on all four sides of the ground.
The stadium was opened in 1963 as ‘Campo del Villarreal‘, then two years later renamed ‘El Madrigal’, which remained up until a couple of years ago, when it became Estádio de la Cerámica, in an effort to help promote the local ceramics industry. In 2016 it underwent a partial facelift, with half of the exterior now having a bright yellow facade, which matches the club colours and nickname ‘TheYellow Submarine’. The ground is all seated, with a capacity of 24.500.
The match was 13th versus 4th in the league table, but I’m not sure how Getafe have managed to reach such heights, as they were absolutely rubbish. Villarreal were little better, which meant the atmosphere was quite subdued, although this is not helped by the fact that Spanish fans don’t really travel in great numbers to away matches. This looked nailed on for a 0-0, as both teams seemed to lack any attacking flair. When the breakthrough did come, it followed a strong run from A. Zambo Anguissa, when he powered through from the centre circle, holding off challenges as he reached the box, before seeing his shot saved, but it fell kindly for Moi Gomez to sweep the ball home. Getafe lost any chance of an unlikely comeback, when their defender M. Olivera picked up two yellow cards in the space of three minutes, (having only come on as a substitute at the start of the second half)leaving them to play the last half an hour with 10 men.
After the match it was a brisk 18 minute walk back to the station to catch the 20.47 train back to Valencia, otherwise it would have been a bit of a wait for the next one, which was due at 21.38. We needn’t have rushed though, as it was six minutes late!
