Bruno double strengthens Villarreal hold on fourth

Captain scores again

The game opened at a frenetic pace with Villarreal dominating and Deportivo looking to break away on the counter-attack. The hosts held firm until the 36th minute.

Mario fed Bruno Soriano from the right of the area and the Villarreal captain fired home his second goal in as many games to break the deadlock. The midfielder had netted the winner against regional rivals Valencia in their 1-0 victory during the week.

Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool de Bruno Soriano. #RCDvVIL pic.twitter.com/lu6RUmqb69

— Villarreal CF (@VillarrealCF) January 3, 2016

Deportivo level

Deportivo’s leading scorer Lucas Perez, who had scored in his last six consecutive games at Riazor, had already fluffed his side’s best chance in the first half but he made amends at the start of the second.

The forward broke away down the right and crossed low to the near post for Luis Alberto to net the equaliser in the 48th minute. It was the midfielder’s third of the Liga BBVA campaign.

¡¡¡¡¡Gooooooooool!!!!! LUIS ALBERTOOOOOOOOOO #DÉPOR 1-1 @VillarrealCF #DaleDÉ pic.twitter.com/cW9UVnr9ej

— RC Deportivo (@RCDeportivo) January 3, 2016

Trading blows

The whirlwind start to the second half saw both teams spurn further chances. Lucas Perez worked an opening and curled a shot wide, and almost immediately the ever-lively Suarez was played through one-on-one with German Lux down the other end, but his weak shot was straight at the Argentine.

Late Penalty

Deportivo bossed the second period but were unable to find a winner and ended up conceding a penalty in time added on at the end of the game.

Fernando Navarro bundled over substitute Samu in the area and it was Bruno Soriano who took responsibility, stepping up to the spot to stroke home the decider.

#RCDvVIL | FINAL | @RCDeportivo 1-2 @VillarrealCF (Luis Alberto; Bruno Soriano x2) pic.twitter.com/q1flOO7FFA

— LaLiga (@LaLiga) January 3, 2016

Villarreal five wins

For Deportivo, it ended an eight-game unbeaten run. Villarreal strengthened their hold on fourth place, and the last Champions League qualification berth, as they extended their winning streak to five games.