UEFA Champions League League Stage - 7
Villarreal 1 - 2 FT Ajax
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
O. Wijndal 12'
HT
46' ↓ A. Moleiro ↑T. Buchanan
49' T. Oluwaseyi (R. Marin)
↓ Y. Regeer ↑K. Itakura 54'
60' S. Mourino
O. Gloukh 61'
71' T. Partey
↓ K. Dolberg ↑R. Bounida 71'
↓ J. Mokio ↑S. Steur 71'
72' ↓ N. Pepe ↑G. Mikautadze
72' ↓ A. Perez ↑G. Moreno
74' ↓ T. Partey ↑D. Parejo
80' R. Marin
↓ O. Gloukh ↑O. Edvardsen 84'
↓ O. Wijndal ↑K. Fitz-Jim 84'
A. Bouwman 88'
O. Edvardsen (A. Gaaei) 90'
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Villarreal
Goalkeepers
Arnau Tenas 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
98
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Santiago Mouriño
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
98
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Rafa Marín 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
6.6
Rating
Renato Veiga 
SHIELD
3
Blocks
3
Blocks
0
Interceptions
1
Tackles
Sergi Cardona 
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
3
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Midfielders
Nicolas Pépé
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
7
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Santi Comesaña
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
98
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Thomas Partey
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
74
Total Mins
74
Entry
Alberto Moleiro
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Forwards
Ayoze Pérez 
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
11%
Pass Acc
Tani Oluwaseyi 
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
BENCH
Luiz Júnior 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Diego Conde
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Alfonso Pedraza
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Pau Navarro
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Dani Parejo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
24
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tajon Buchanan 
DRIBBLER
3
Dribbles
3
Dribbles
3
Attempts
100%
Success %
Gerard Moreno
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
26
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Georges Mikautadze
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
26
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hugo Lopez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ajax
Goalkeepers
Vítězslav Jaroš
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
98
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Anton Gaaei
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
1
Assists
49%
Pass Acc
Aaron Bouwman 
MAGNET
93
Activity
93
Activity
89
Passes
4
Duels
Youri Baas
MAGNET
92
Activity
92
Activity
86
Passes
6
Duels
Owen Wijndal
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
50%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
Davy Klaassen 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Youri Regeer
MAGNET
77
Activity
77
Activity
66
Passes
11
Duels
Jorthy Mokio
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
71
Total Mins
71
Entry
Forwards
Oscar Gloukh
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Kasper Dolberg
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
71
Total Mins
71
Entry
Mika Godts
MAGNET
75
Activity
75
Activity
58
Passes
17
Duels
BENCH
Joeri Heerkens
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Remko Pasveer
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Ko Itakura
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
44
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Lucas Rosa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Josip Šutalo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Gerald Alders
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Sean Steur
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
27
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kian Fitz-Jim
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
14
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Abdellah Ouazane
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Rayane Bounida
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
27
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Raúl Moro
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Oliver Edvardsen 
CLUTCH HERO
90
Goal Time
90
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
7.6
Rating
League Standings
P: 7 GD: +18
P: 7 GD: +13
P: 7 GD: +11
P: 7 GD: +6
P: 7 GD: +8
P: 7 GD: +10
P: 7 GD: +10
P: 7 GD: +6
P: 7 GD: +5
P: 7 GD: +5
P: 7 GD: +4
P: 7 GD: +3
P: 7 GD: +1
P: 7 GD: +6
P: 7 GD: +4
P: 7 GD: +4
P: 7 GD: 0
P: 7 GD: -2
P: 7 GD: 0
P: 7 GD: -4
P: 7 GD: -6
P: 7 GD: +1
P: 7 GD: -4
P: 7 GD: -5
P: 7 GD: -5
P: 7 GD: -6
P: 7 GD: -5
P: 7 GD: -2
P: 7 GD: -4
P: 7 GD: -6
P: 7 GD: -10
P: 7 GD: -12
P: 7 GD: -9
P: 7 GD: -11
P: 7 GD: -10
League Standings
P: 8 GD: +19
P: 8 GD: +14
P: 8 GD: +12
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +7
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +9
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +4
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: 0
P: 8 GD: -1
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: -4
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -6
P: 8 GD: -8
P: 8 GD: -1
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -3
P: 8 GD: -3
P: 8 GD: -9
P: 8 GD: 0
P: 8 GD: -5
P: 8 GD: -6
P: 8 GD: -9
P: 8 GD: -13
P: 8 GD: -11
P: 8 GD: -14
P: 8 GD: -13
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Edvardsen’s Last-Gasp Strike Stuns Ceramica
Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 75/100. A high-octane encounter saw Ajax defy the odds to secure a vital away victory, punishing a wasteful Villarreal side in the dying embers of the match.
The Submarine Finds Its Range
The atmosphere at Estadio de la Ceramica was electric as Villarreal sought to ignite their European campaign. Despite allowing Ajax to exercise dominated possession at 62%, the hosts were far more aggressive in the opening stages. A barrage of 19 shots turned the pitch into a shooting gallery, eventually yielding results in the 49th minute. R. Marin provided the incision, finding T. Oluwaseyi who slotted home to give the Yellow Submarine a deserved lead. The Intensity of the home side's pressing appeared to have the Dutch giants rattled, as they struggled to convert their territorial dominance into clear-cut chances against a compact defensive block.
The Dutch Resistance and Gloukh’s Response
The turning point arrived as the game reached the hour mark. Villarreal, perhaps buoyed too much by their lead, began to retreat, inviting pressure from an Ajax side that thrives on the ball. The Upset Factor began to brew when O. Gloukh found a pocket of space in the 61st minute to restore parity. Ajax’s resurgence was anchored by the heroics of Vítězslav Jaroš, who produced 6 vital saves to keep the scores level. Every time the hosts looked certain to regain the lead through their 14 shots from inside the box, Jaroš stood firm, shifting the Balance of morale toward the visitors as the clock ticked down.
Edvardsen Seals the Smash-and-Grab
As the match entered its final phase, the Stakes were palpable for two teams desperately needing points to climb the table. Villarreal pushed forward in search of a late winner, leaving themselves exposed to the counter-attack. In the 90th minute, the ultimate blow was dealt. Substitute O. Edvardsen, who had only been on the pitch for six minutes, made an instant impact. After being set up by A. Gaaei, Edvardsen silenced the home crowd with a clinical finish. It was a classic Champions League sucker-punch; despite Villarreal’s 1.37 xG compared to Ajax’s 0.91, the visitors depart Spain with all three points, leaving the home side to rue their missed opportunities.
Key Questions
How did Ajax pull off this shock result?
Ajax utilized 62% possession and the heroics of Jaroš to withstand 19 shots, eventually winning with a clinical 90th-minute counter-attack.
How dramatic was the late winner by Vítězslav Jaroš?
Jaroš didn't score, but his 6 saves were the foundation that allowed Edvardsen to net the dramatic 90th-minute winning goal.
How did Villarreal complete the comeback from behind?
Villarreal actually failed to complete a comeback; they surrendered a 1-0 lead to lose 1-2 after failing to capitalize on their many chances.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Desperation in the Submarine as Ajax Arrives
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 25/100. This is a basement battle between two European giants who have forgotten how to win on the biggest stage.
The Setup
The lights of the UEFA Champions League usually signal prestige, but at Estadio de la Ceramica this late January evening, they illuminate a rescue mission. Both Villarreal and Ajax find themselves in the doldrums of the league stage, occupying 35th and 34th place respectively. The Form of the hosts is particularly alarming, coming into this match on the back of four consecutive losses. However, the Stakes are high for both managers; a win provides a lifeline, while another defeat likely seals their continental exit. With a combined 31 goals conceded between them in just 12 matches, the Balance of this fixture leans heavily toward defensive frailty over tactical masterclasses.
Key Battle
Luiz Júnior vs Oscar Gloukh. The Villarreal goalkeeper has been under siege all season and will need to be at his absolute best to deny Gloukh. The young Ajax playmaker has been a rare bright spark for the Dutch giants, and his ability to find space between the lines will test a Villarreal backline that has yet to keep a clean sheet in this competition.
Our Prediction
Expect a chaotic, error-strewn match where neither side can truly impose control. Ajax will likely dominate possession and find joy through Gloukh, but their defensive porousness will allow Villarreal back into the contest. A 2-2 draw seems inevitable as both sides prioritize attacking desperation over defensive discipline.