Danjuma has scored 10 goals in his first 23 league matches for Villarreal, unable to match Ikechukwu Uche’s joint record of 10 goals in 16 matches
Villarreal continued a four-game unbeaten run across all competitions on Tuesday night with a 2-0 home victory over Valencia at the Estadio de la Ceramica.
Villarreal’s forward of Nigerian descent Arnaut Danjuma was the star of the night with the 25-year-old’s first-half brace enough to secure the victory for Unai Emery’s side.
Samuel Chukwueze was a half-time substitute for Villarreal with the Nigerian international playing the whole of the second half in a comfortable victory for the home side.
Danjuma puts Villarreal in the driving seat
Villarreal started the game on the front foot as the European semifinalists strived to consolidate their seventh position in the league with consecutive league victories for the first time since February 2022.
Villarreal’s Algerian center-back gave the Yellow Submarines the first opportunity to score as he won a VAR-adjudged penalty in the 8th minute which Danjuma tucked away for the Dutchman’s ninth (9th) goal of the season.
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Danjuma’s second contribution to the game came in the 17th minute as the Villarreal forward got on the end of Juan Foyth’s pass to finish past Jasper Cillessen in the Valencia goal and double his team’s lead.
Danjuma’s second goal of the night and tenth overall in 23 league games made him the sixth (6th) fastest Villarreal player to reach 10 goals in the league. Nigeria’s Ikechukwu Uche is joint-first on the list with Giuseppe Rossi, reaching the same milestone in 16 matches.
Chukwueze underwhelms against Valencia
Chukwueze came on as a half-time substitute for Yeremy Pino as Emery tried to get more attacking impetus into the game from the wings.
The Super Eagles winger was unable to get on the scoreboard against Valencia after missing two (2) big chances to add to his season tally of two (2) league goals.
Overall, Chukwueze had two (2) shots off target and one (1) blocked while he skipped past his marker four (4) times out of eight (8) attempted dribbles.
The silky Super Eagles forward were nifty on the ball as always, laying off 94.1% accurate passes during the game and winning six (6) of his 10 ground duels against Valencia.
Villarreal is making a late push for the UEFA Europa Conference League position currently occupied by Real Sociedad in the seventh position.
Villarreal is sixth with 52 points from 33 matches while Sociedad has 55 points and a game in hand over Unai Emery’s side.
Villarreal’s next league match is away at bottom-placed Deportivo Alaves on April 30 while Valencia faces 19th-placed Levante at the Mestalla Stadium on the same day.
