Villarreal’s Copa del Rey campaign came to an abrupt end on Wednesday night as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Pontevedra in Galicia.
The loss marked a bitterly disappointing debut for 19-year-old Senegalese midfielder Alassane Diatta, who was handed his first senior appearance for the Yellow Submarine.
Despite sitting comfortably in fifth place in La Liga, Villarreal faltered against lower-division opponents in the second round of the Spanish Cup.
The narrow defeat leaves Marcelino’s side with only the league to focus on for the remainder of the season.
Marcelino, known for his strategic rotations, fielded a heavily altered lineup for the clash at the Estadio Pasarón.
Regular starters such as Yeremy Pino, Pape Gueye, Ayoze Pérez, and Santi Comesaña were left on the bench, providing an opportunity for emerging talents like Pau Cabanes de la Torre and Alassane Diatta.
Diatta, who has made seven appearances for Villarreal’s reserve team in the Spanish third division and was an unused substitute in a La Liga match against Osasuna, was given the chance to impress.
However, the midfielder, a product of Senegalese clubs Mbour Petite-Côte and Keur Madior, faced a difficult introduction to first-team football.
In a surprising turn of events, Villarreal struggled to dominate possession, with Pontevedra controlling 73% of the ball.
Despite the challenging circumstances, Diatta showed determination, attempting to assert himself in the midfield.
However, the match’s intensity and Pontevedra’s organized approach stifled his efforts.
Diatta was eventually replaced by compatriot Pape Gueye, but Villarreal’s fortunes did not improve.
The decisive moment came in the 87th minute when Pontevedra’s Dalisson de Almeida found the net, sealing the upset and sending Villarreal out of the competition.
The defeat represents a missed opportunity for Villarreal, who were expected to progress further in the tournament.
Speaking after the match, Marcelino acknowledged the team’s shortcomings, saying, “We took risks with rotations, but we should have performed better.
This is a tough result to take.
For Diatta, the experience serves as a learning moment in his budding career.
While his debut may not have gone as planned, the young midfielder remains a promising prospect for Villarreal, and his journey in Spanish football is only just beginning.
With their Copa del Rey ambitions dashed, Villarreal must now shift their focus to maintaining their strong position in La Liga, leaving little margin for further disappointment.
