Valencia CF vs Villarreal CF — 10 April 2011

La Liga · Primera División 2010–11 · Matchday 31 · 10 April 2011

Match Context

The April 2011 meeting between Valencia and Villarreal was a regional derby played between two clubs from the Valencian Community, with both sides occupying the upper half of the La Liga table during the 2010–11 campaign. Valencia, managed by Unai Emery at the time, used the fixture as part of their pursuit of a third-place finish, while Villarreal — coached by Juan Carlos Garrido — were establishing themselves as a UEFA Champions League contender under captain Marcos Senna.

Valencia entered the match following the departures of David Silva and David Villa in the previous transfer window, with the squad rebuilt around Roberto Soldado, Juan Mata, and Éver Banega. Villarreal's attacking core relied on Giuseppe Rossi and Nilmar, both of whom had productive seasons in front of goal.

Fixture History

The April 2011 fixture was one of two Valencian Community derbies in the 2010–11 La Liga season. The rivalry between Valencia and Villarreal — clubs 68 kilometres apart on the Mediterranean coast — had intensified during the 2000s as both regularly competed for European places. Mestalla hosted the spring encounter, making it the second of the two league meetings that year.

2010–11 Season Outcome

By the end of the season Valencia finished third in La Liga, qualifying directly for the UEFA Champions League group stage. Villarreal finished fourth, with both clubs heading into the following European campaign. The "Submarino Amarillo" reached the UEFA Europa League semi-finals later that season, while Valencia exited the Champions League in the round of sixteen.

Related: La Liga archive · Éver Banega · Teams