Winger Samu Castillejo is one of La Liga’s most coveted emerging stars, yet his performance in Sunday’s rollercoaster 1-0 win against Getafe left room to improve.
Castillejo, 23, has continually been linked to Serie A‘s Napoli, among others, since a move fell through in the summer transfer window.
At his best, the ex-Spain Under-21 international combines devious trickery and commendable work rate. But he struggled to make a lasting impression in a hectic game decided by Turkey youngster Enes Unal’s third-minute tap-in and two penalty saves from heroic home goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo.
Here, we analyse the performance of the coveted Yellow Submarine star.
STATISTICS
Goals – 0
Assists – 0
Shots – 1
Shots on target – 1
Touches – 45
Passes – 27
Key passes – 1
Dribbles – 1
Dispossessed – 3
30-SECOND REPORT
Castillejo’s performance matched his team’s. He started brightly on the right-hand side of Villarreal’s 4-4-2 formation with a number of promising runs to lift the crowd and sow seeds of doubts in the Getafe defence, before disappearing as unfortunate visitors Getafe gradually took control at Estadio de la Ceramica.
But he was not able to deliver a defining moment, prior to his 70th-minute substitution. He had only one shot (Villarreal’s seventh lowest), completed one dribble (Italy’s Roberto Soriano led the way with four), was one of six players in yellow to produce a solitary key pass and had only 45 touches (again, six more team-mates bettered this).
2 - First time Sergio Asenjo save two penalties in a single La Liga game in his career. Lifesaver. pic.twitter.com/PRRBUK2GAe
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) February 25, 2018
GOT RIGHT
SILKY SKILLS COMBINED WITH DESIRE – Castillejo really is a joy to watch when in full flight. Within the first minute alone, he’d twisted and turned several defenders and was unlucky not to earn a free-kick.
He was at it again just before the half-hour mark, denied at the last before he could deliver a troubling cross.
The June 2015 signing from Malaga was also prepared to go hunting for the ball, popping up on both flanks and even trying to influence things through the middle.
GOT WRONG
IN SEARCH OF AN END PRODUCT – One fierce second-half free-kick aside, no indelible impression was left.
This isn’t the end of the world. Getafe boast La Liga’s third-best defence with just 22 goals conceded, plus Castillejo’s two goals and four assists this term puts him on course to improve upon his best-ever return (2014/15’s one goal and five assists).
But if his dream about earning a berth at World Cup 2018 or making a move to a bigger side are to reach fruition, watching scouts will be concerned at the drop-off in impact during this fixture.
9 - Bacca and Ünal have been involved in nine of the last 14 Villarreal goals in La Liga (scored or assisted). Duo. pic.twitter.com/k7TIVRGGjl
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) February 25, 2018
KEY MOMENTS
1st min GREAT RUN: Castillejo ran rings around several markers, a burst of pace taking him into the corner where he appeared to be fouled – but no free-kick was given.
29th min GREAT RUN: He repeated the trick again, but was crowded out before he could tee up either Unal or Colombia striker Carlos Bacca.
57th min CHANCE: Getafe goalkeeper Vicente Guaitia’s fingertips were stung by a free-kick from the right-hand corner of the penalty box which he impressively managed to hold.
VERDICT
Castillejo possesses the skill set to become the latest star to come out of La Liga’s middle ranks.
Any player who combines technical aplomb with a desire to work will be valued. With time and nurturing, consistency should come.
When it does, the Spain national team will boast another formidable weapon.
RATING: 6/10
All statistics are compiled using whoscored.com
