Villarreal ended their Champions League campaign with a heavy defeat in Germany, but head coach Marcelino said there were encouraging signs in the performance of young winger Alassane Diatta on his European debut.
The Spanish side were beaten 3-0 by Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday in their final group-stage match, closing a disappointing continental run that yielded just one point and no victories.
With qualification already out of reach, the fixture offered Villarreal little at stake beyond evaluation, prompting Marcelino to make several changes to his starting line-up.
Among those handed an opportunity was 20-year-old Senegalese winger Alassane Diatta, who made his first-ever Champions League start.
Deployed on the left flank despite being more accustomed to a central midfield role, the youngster was one of several reserve players drafted in as Villarreal looked to assess their options amid a difficult campaign.
Although the result underlined Villarreal’s struggles in Europe this season, Marcelino was keen to highlight Diatta’s contribution, suggesting the experiment provided a positive takeaway on an otherwise sobering night.
“Alassane (Diatta) is a player who plays for the reserve team; we adapted him to a different position, and I think it worked well. I think he was one of the players who had an acceptable level of performance ,” Marcelino said in a press conference regarding the player who came through the youth ranks at Mbour Petie-Côte and Keur Madior FC.
The coach’s remarks reflected Villarreal’s broader approach to the match, using the final group fixture to test younger players and those on the fringes of the first team.
For Diatta, the occasion marked a significant personal milestone, providing him with experience at Europe’s highest club level despite the unfavourable scoreline.
Villarreal’s European journey ultimately proved to be a frustrating one, with the club unable to build momentum or secure a breakthrough result.
Alassane Diatta VS Bayer Leverkusen | Uefa Champions League debutpic.twitter.com/W6vyC7TGV2
— Senegal Football Scout 🇸🇳⚽️ (@senegalscout) January 29, 2026
Finishing second from bottom in the group standings, the defeat in Leverkusen served as a stark conclusion to a campaign that fell well below expectations.
However, Marcelino’s assessment suggests the club may still draw value from the experience, particularly in the development of emerging players.
For Diatta, the outing offered a chance to demonstrate adaptability and composure on a major stage, traits that did not go unnoticed by his manager.
While Villarreal now turn their attention away from Europe, the Champions League debut of a young academy graduate provided a rare note of optimism amid an otherwise difficult continental season.
