Villarreal avenged last week's defeat to Odense by crushing the Danish side 3-0 at El Madrigal Tuesday night. Goals by Giuseppe Rossi (two) and Carlos Marchena allowed the Yellow Submarine to advance the UEFA Champions League group stage round by a 3-1 goal aggregate.
The Yellow Submarine asserted their dominance during the initial 10 minutes of play as Giuseppe Rossi and Marcos Senna tested Odense’s backline with shots from 20 yards out. Midfielders Bruno and Borja Valero accompanied Villarreal’s early attack, which overwhelmed Odense from the start.
The suffocating pressure and ball possession from the Spaniards continued to frustrate the Danes, as Kalilou Traore and Baskhim Karil picked up reckless yellow cards the 16th and 18th minutes of the first half.
Odense goalkeeper Stefan Wessels was called into action in the 31st minute when Borja Valero’s shot from the edge of the box force the German to plunge toward the bottom right corner to preserve Odense’s goal advantage.
Eight minutes later, Rossi picked up an ball in the Odense box and seemed primed to stir the Villarreal faithful only to see Wessel resurface to save Rossi’s chip.
In the second half, Odense sustained an early Villarreal charge, as Wessels dealt with shots from Joan Oriol and Senn. Ex-Osasuna standout Javier Camunas had an open opportunity in the 50th minute that brushed by the Odense goal.
The breakthrough for Villarreal came when Rossi clipped a perfectly placed cross from Nilmar in the 51st minute that trickled by Wessels hands. The Italian striker added another score in the 66th minute while substitute Carlos Marchena provided an additional goal that cemented Villarreal’s ticket to the group stage.
With the victory, Villarreal enter UEFA Champions League group stage for only the third time in their history. Odense is forced to settle for Europa League's group stage.
