The pressure on Girona to win was evident from the start, as they needed the three points to boost their chances of staying in the league. Villarreal, on the other hand, wanted to continue their push for a spot in the Champions League.

The early stages of the game saw Villarreal dominating possession in the final third, but they struggled to create clear scoring opportunities. One such chance came when Ayoze Perez had the ball in the net, but it was disallowed due to a handball.

The visitors continued to bombard the Girona goal, but their finishing was off, with Nicolas Pepe's shot from inside the area sailing over the crossbar.

Girona's head coach Míchel was absent due to medical reasons, and his assistant Salva took charge. However, the team looked uncertain, and they mostly defended deep in their own half.

The second half was slightly more even, but Girona's efforts were limited, with Cristhian Stuani's blocked shot being their only notable attempt at goal.

Villarreal also struggled to create chances after the break, but they eventually found their rhythm in the 75th minute with a long-range shot from Alex Baena that was saved by the goalkeeper.

The visitors continued to push for a winning goal, and their efforts paid off in the final minutes when Karl Etta Eyong scored with a header from Alfonso Pedraza's precise cross.

The win provisionally moved Villarreal four points clear of sixth-place Real Betis, increasing their chances of qualifying for the Champions League next season. Girona, however, are still safe with a point, but a win would have all but secured their safety.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Alfonso Pedraza (Villarreal)

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