Carlos Vela Scouting Report – Osasuna 0-0 Villareal

Welcome to the fifth in the series of Carlos Vela scouting reports, as Young Guns takes a look at the progress of the Mexican forward on loan with Spanish La Liga outfit Osasuna.

If you have missed any of the reports in the series, or simply wish to check up on how the other six of Arsenal’s loanees have performed visit our Loanees Section

Today’s match featured an inform Villareal side at home to Carlos’s relegation threatened Osasuna, crucial points were at steak with Villareal keen to cement there place in next season’s Champions League, and Osasuna desperate to build on the 3-1 win over Athletico Madrid last weekend, in which Vela put in a man of the match performance scoring once and making a goal for Kike Sola.

Match Result – Villareal 0-0 Osasuna
Carlos Played 73 Minutes

To Read An In Depth Report On The Game, And Carlos, Click The Read More Link Below.

So to the game, Vela who turned 19 yesterday started as a left sided striker in a 4-3-3 formation, in the bouncing El Madrigal Stadium, Osasuna made a fantastic start last week scoring twice inside the first 5 minutes.

But this game was cagey, with Villareal spending the early 15 minutes trying to search for gaps in the Osasuna back line, Robert Pires was pulling the strings, but the visitors were defending well forcing the opposition into long range efforts.

Despite being penned back whenever they did go forward Osasuna gave the ball straight to Vela looking for his pace and power to expose Villareal, but with little service Carlos was forced to back track and help out defensively, something in which he was a little lazy with at times.

But he caused chaos when Punal’s free-kick was whipped in, and Vela jumped with the keeper, forcing him to flap it away, the ball found Franco who raced away before more good defending from Monreal ended the danger.

Pires was coming into the game more and more, firstly waiting for the scraps after Angel’s cross was flicked on, and then running at the visitors back line before running out of space and being dis-possessed.

Sola then fired wide, after Plasil’s free kick, on a rare venture forward from Azpilicueta on the half hour mark, they then got another set-piece after a foul from Godin, it was flicked on, into the path of Sola, who from the edge of the six yard box sliced an effort, and in a mad scramble the goalkeeper grabbed it on the line, a fantastic chance in a half which produced very little.

Then Carlos sprung into life, cutting in from the left wing, riding the tackle of Godin, and with the outside of his boot flicking the ball through for Sola who could not reach it, terrific work from the Mexican, he had now come inside playing in the number 10 role and was seeing more and more of the ball, with that chance came a change in the tempo and the control, Osasuna were now running the game, pinging the ball all over the park, before an effort was clipped into Juanfran who after chesting down fired over.

Vela then had another chance, he was put through on the left wing, and with the outside of his boot let fly, but it went well wide to the dissapointment of the waiting Sola, he then chested the ball down on the edge of the area, and was flattened under a challenge from Rodriguez, the free kick was wasted, along with the resulting corner.

Monreal then with a 50 yard long ball found Carlos on the left wing, he flicked the ball out of his feet and drilled a cross in, but Plasil failed to make contact, with half time approaching it seemed if Osasuna were to score, it would have to be now.

Deep into first half stoppage time a 22 man argument flared up, with an apparent elbow being thrown at Josetxo, the pantomime villain Franco was booked, it was the final action of the first half.

Half Time Osasuna 0-0 Villareal

Osasuna made a half time change at centre back with Josetxo coming off and Astudillo coming on, and there was another injury to deal with straight after half time, Plasil was caught and it looked like he pulled his arm out of his shoulder socket, and he appeared in real agony, but after a few moments, he recovered and continued.

Carlos was then involved in the first attack of the half, playing a one two with Sola before the Spanish striker wasted it with Vela racing into the box, Capdevila had pushed up well from left back and his dangerous cross was put behind for a corner which curled straight out, and end to end start to this second period.

Astudillo then broke away for Osasuna, his cross was poor, with Juanfran, Sola and Vela all waiting to get on the end of it, and they were nearly punished for wasting their chances, Villareal broke away and Capdevila cross was met by Franco’s volley the effort just going wide, a warning from the hosts.

Monreal then took the ball and looked over the top of Vela, but he was snuffed out by some excellent defending, on 57 minutes Villareal in need of the points made a change up front.

Nihat > Jon Dahl Tomasson.

And the change paid dividends, Franco found Pires who shot was deflected out, Osasuna then broke, Punal found himself around the back, he took the ball to the dead-ball line, with Vela in the middle, but he couldn’t pull the it back and chance was gone.

the home side were starting to tighten their grip, first Santi had a shot well saved after the Osasuna defence went to sleep and then Senna with a long range effort, but by far the best chance was after a slip from Flano allowed Franco enough space to shoot.

From that chance, Vela broke out, racing away from the back four, and slotting Sola away, he jinked into the box, just Rodriguez was in his way, he tried to turn away from the Argentine, who stuck out a leg, and Sola went down, the referee had a fantastic view point, and decided to book Kike Sola for a dive, maybe a little harsh.

Then Chilean wonder-kid Matias Fernandez was introduced for the final 20 minutes, he would have the perfect chance to test Ricardo with a free kick, Carlos joined the end of the wall, and Fernandez’s effort struck Punal and went over for a corner and the danger was cleared, good defensive work from Vela as the rain began to pour.

On 73 minutes, Carlos Vela was withdrawn, Hector Font who scored from the bench last week replaced him, a solid performance from the loanee having to cover various defensive tasks, some he did well others not so good, he also added pace and an attacking threat to Osasuna’s play.

Despite Carlos’s withdrawal the contest was addictive, to see who could snatch the points, and with 10 minutes left Osasuna made another change, the impressive Eduardo Dady coming on for Kike Sola who annoyed the fans by taking as much time as possible to trudge to the touchline.

The giant Cape Verde forward Dady had been missing in recent weeks and has really caught the eye this term.

With five minutes to go Villareal made a final change, Bruno replacing Senna in the centre of the park, as the game started to become scrappy as the two sides tired, there was a comical moment when Godin and Pires ran into each other and the ball bounced free for Dady but the chance disappeared after good defending from Bruno.

Osasuna then broke away after having all 11 men back behind the ball defending, Juanfran skipped forward, and into the area, his shot was put behind for a corner.

It was the final action of the game, it finished 0-0 a result which favours Osasuna rather than Villareal, with every point being crucial in the relegation fight.

Full Time : – Osasuna 0-0 Villareal

Article By – J.Sanderson