Match Report
In the standings it was Maccabi Tel Aviv 2nd on 11 points, Villarreal 1st on 16 — separated by 5. Maccabi Tel Aviv had been under-performing their position — 21st on five-round form against 2nd in the table. Scoring rates set the scale: Maccabi Tel Aviv 1 scored and 1.17 conceded per game, Villarreal 2.83 and 0.83, with the league averaging 1.55.
Villarreal were unbeaten in 10. The last-five ledger: Maccabi Tel Aviv 6/15, Villarreal 13/15.
Sammy Ofer Stadium in Haifa staged the fixture, a ground that holds 30,820. Half-time and full-time told different stories: Villarreal led 1-0 at the break, before 1 more goal closed it at 1-1.