Albion end pre-season with win over Villarreal

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Danny Welbeck scores twice with Joao Pedro and Yankuba Minteh also on target in 4-0 victory.

Bruce Talbot

2024-08-10T16:50+01:00

Joao Pedro's right-foot strike is on its way into the top corner for Albion's first goal.

Albion made it four wins out of four in pre-season with an impressive 4-0 victory over Villarreal at the Amex.

First-half goals from Joao Pedro and Danny Welbeck put Albion in control before the lively Yankuba Minteh added a deserved third and Welbeck converted an 85th-minute penalty. Head coach Fabian Hurzeler looked at 20 players in total and will have been pleased with Albion’s display a week away from the Premier League opener at Everton.

Both sides should have scored in the first minute. Arnaut Danjuma hit the post after just 24 seconds and when Albion responded Minteh headed Welbeck’s cross wide from a great position.

Joao Pedro celebrates in the Amex sunshine after putting Albion in front.

That set the tone for an end-to-end first half. Villarreal looked threatening down their left but Albion attacked in numbers too and Joao put them ahead with a fine left-footed strike into the top corner from 20 yards, after Mitoma set him up in the 15th minute.

Mitoma headed straight at keeper Diego Conte from Minteh’s cross and Danjuma hit the side netting before being denied by Jan Paul van Hecke’s brave block as the chances came thick and fast.

Albion doubled their lead six minutes before the break when Welbeck timed his run to beat the offside trap and convert Minteh’s pass with a powerful right-foot finish.

Albion maintained their control after the break.

Danny Welbeck scored Albion's second goal with an emphatic finish.

Substitute Jeremy Sarmiento forced Conte to keep out a low effort that was heading inside the right-hand post. Valentin Barco’s delicious pass then sent Mitoma in on goal, but Conte again came to Villarreal’s rescue with a smothering save.

But there was little Conte could do in the 70th minute when Minteh fired home from close range after the keeper had pushed Mitoma’s shot into his path. Conte made fine saves from subs Simon Adingra and Amario Cozier-Duberry before Welbeck got his second from the spot with five minutes to go after he was tripped in the box.

Delight for Yankuba Minteh who celebrates with Danny Welbeck after making it 3-0.

Albion line-up: Steele, Veltman (Ayari 62), van Hecke, Dunk (Webster 45), Barco (Baleba 62), Minteh (Cozier-Duberry 78), Wieffer (Hinshelwood 62), Milner (Moran 78), Mitoma (Adingra 74), Joao (Sarmiento 45), Welbeck (O’Mahony 86).