Villarreal defender Eric Bailly has made his long-awaited return to action after recovering from a collarbone injury sustained on October 20.
The Ivorian international marked his comeback by playing a half in the team’s recent clash with Real Betis last weekend.
Bailly, who had been sidelined for several weeks, had already been named to the bench for Villarreal’s previous fixtures against Poblense and Athletic Bilbao.
His performances in training and the confidence shown by head coach Marcelino saw him entrusted with a starting role in the match against Rayo Vallecano, a fixture that was rescheduled as part of the 12th matchday of the season.
In a further sign of his recovery, Bailly was included in Villarreal’s squad for their final match of the year, a home fixture against Leganés.
However, despite being listed on the team sheet, he remained an unused substitute throughout the 90 minutes.
Bailly’s return to full fitness is a significant boost for Villarreal, who have been bolstering their defensive options as they approach the second half of the season.
The 29-year-old, who joined the club in 2023, will be keen to regain full match fitness and contribute to the team’s defensive efforts in the coming weeks.
