How unlucky Zajaryan is! His fabulous goal was prevented by the crossbar
Anatoly Romanov February 24, 2024, 01:14 Moscow time
Real Soiedad lost at home to Villarreal.
Another failed match for Zakharyan’s team. Real Sociedad extended its streak without a win at home in Primera to five games. The Basques lost at home against Villarreal.
Zakharyan appeared in Real Sociedad’s starting eleven again, but this time he started the game as number eight in a 4-3-3 formation. The place on the left flank was occupied, perhaps, by the Russian’s main competitor in the San Sebastian team Barrenechea. In the pressure, our legionnaire put pressure on Villarreal’s center back, Comesagna. However, Arsen quickly had to change position and returned to the left edge. Barrenechea was injured again in the 6th minute and was replaced by Olasagasti, who was thrown into the center by coach Imanol Alguacil.
On the right flank of Villarreal’s defense, Zakharyan faced secret defender Mosquera, a winter newcomer on loan from Wolverhampton. For some reason, visiting coach Marcelino García Toral places the Colombian center back on the right wing. In general, Villarreal defended with a 4-4-2 system, played in a very compact way and left minimal spaces for the Basques. The home team had the ball more than 70% of the time, but lacked speed and unconventional movements. And therefore, occurrences. With the score 0:0, the only thing I remember is the moment after the set piece, when Coquelin cleared the ball from his goal line.
Zajaryan made several good decisions in the outside area, but still could not “make a difference.” One day the Russian shot very dangerously across the goal. If center forward André Silva had had longer legs or a quicker reaction, he probably would have scored a goal. And so the Portuguese almost didn’t reach the ball.
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Villarreal was waiting for its opportunity and got it in the first half. After the first dangerous action, the Yellow Submarine took a corner, Albiol saved in the goalkeeper’s area and Comesaña scored. The goalkeeper Remiro did something strange. The Basque goalkeeper decided to show the referee that they were fouling him, but he played poorly and lost the goal. The VAR verified the episode and the goal was counted.
Real Sociedad continued to have problems with the ball. But before the break, Zakharyan almost scored a miraculous goal! Arsen took the free kick almost from the edge, everyone was preparing to serve, including the goalkeeper, who was slightly outside the goal, and the Russian arched the ball towards the goal. Unfortunately the ball hit the crossbar.
The second half started disastrously for Real Sociedad. Firstly, the team also lost right back Traoré to injury, who was replaced by Aramburu. And shortly after the break the Basques scored a goal. The home team wanted to keep the ball in their goal by pressing and passing the ball, but Pacheco made a terrible pass. The ball went into the area between Aramburu and Le Norman, Baena intercepted it and helped Comesanya score a double. Before, the midfielder had not scored in Example.
The complete broadcasts of the Spanish Primera matches are available on Okko.
After the hour mark, a controversial episode occurred near the Villarreal penalty area. The opponent hit Zakharyan’s leg practically on the same line. The referee continued the match and then the VAR reviewed the episode, but Arsen and his teammates did not ask for a penalty or elimination.
Real Sociedad advanced and Zakharyan continued to be the center of attention in the hottest episodes. He could have scored by shooting freely from 15 yards, but he was in a hurry and sent the ball over the goal. He then committed a foul on Villarreal’s dangerous counterattack and received a yellow card. And halfway through, Arsen collided in the air with the huge Mosquera and landed unsuccessfully on his shoulder. The Russian was immediately replaced by Becker, but this substitute had apparently already been prepared a minute earlier. Zajaryan left the field with the sore, but it is difficult to understand the severity of the injury for our legionnaire. Arsene’s final statistics in the game against Villarreal: 41 touches of the ball (three in a foreign area), two shots, 72% accurate passes, zero passes under attack, three duels won out of nine, one self-inflicted foul and three self-inflicted violations. The website Sofascore rated his game with an average score of 6.7 points.
In the end, Real Sociedad managed to score a goal when Merino successfully finished off a shot from Becker. But in extra time Villarreal striker Sørloth, who played for the Basques last season, scored 1-3: he completed a counterattack by shooting into touch. Real Sociedad lost despite taking 21 shots and eight shots on goal.
