Thomas Partey Impresses as Villarreal Hammer Girona with Five Star Performance in La Liga
- Ghana’s Thomas Partey shone bright as Villarreal cruised past Girona to extend their perfect start to the season
- A hat-trick from Tajon Buchanan, along with goals from Nicolas Pepe and Rafa Marin, sealed a commanding victory for the Yellow Submarine
- Partey, the ex-Arsenal midfielder, will now be aiming for his first start when Villarreal take on Celta Vigo next Sunday
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Thomas Partey impressed as Villarreal continued their fine start to the season with a ruthless 5-0 demolition of Girona in La Liga, leaving their fans buzzing inside the Estadio de la Cerámica.
The Yellow Submarine came flying out of the blocks, putting the game beyond doubt before the half-hour mark.
Source: Getty Images
How Villarreal dismantled Girona with a five-star performance
It all began in the 7th minute when Ivorian forward Nicolas Pepe pounced on a defensive lapse, calmly slotting past Vladyslav Krapyvtsov in goal for Girona.
Moments later, Tajon Buchanan lit up the stadium with a dazzling solo run down the right, blasting into the roof of the net to make it 2-0 after just 16 minutes, as noted by Flashscore.
Villarreal’s dominance only grew. From a cleverly worked short corner in the 25th minute, Yeremy Pino floated a cross to the far post where Rafa Marin rose highest to nod home.
Three became four soon after when Sergi Cardona found Buchanan in the box, and the Canadian forward made no mistake, prodding in his second of the night.
By halftime, the contest was already over, yet Villarreal showed no mercy.
Four minutes after the hour mark, Buchanan completed his hat-trick with another composed finish, capping a dream evening for himself and his team.
From then on, it felt more like a training session, as Marcelino’s men eased through the final stages to seal back-to-back victories.
Source: Getty Images
How Thomas Partey performed for Girona
While the goals flowed freely, Thomas Partey quietly stole some of the spotlight after being introduced at the break.
Making only his second appearance for the club, the Ghanaian midfielder replaced Santi Comesaña and immediately brought control to the middle of the park.
In just 45 minutes, Partey showed why Villarreal were willing to take a gamble on him despite the cloud of ongoing legal troubles.
According to Sofascore, he registered 44 touches, completed 32 passes at an 84 percent success rate, and impressively won every ground and aerial duel he contested.
He also completed all his dribbles, played four incisive balls into the final third, and even chipped in with a crucial clearance.
It was a display that spoke of composure, intelligence, and authority – a reminder of his quality on a night dominated by Buchanan’s heroics.
For Villarreal, this emphatic victory sets the tone for what could be a thrilling campaign.
With momentum firmly on their side, the Yellow Submarine have signalled they mean business this season and would hope for a third win on the bounce when they face Celta Vigo on August 31.
Interestingly, Partey's switch to Spain came at a financial cost, as he accepted a significant pay cut to leave Arsenal for Villarreal.
Meanwhile, the Black Stars midfielder is scheduled to appear in court again on September 2 as proceedings continue.
Villarreal president addresses Partey's legal case
Relatedly, YEN.com.gh reported that Villarreal president Fernando Roig Alfonso addressed Thomas Partey’s ongoing legal case in the United Kingdom for the first time.
The 78-year-old businessman appealed to Yellow Submarine fans to withhold judgment until the matter is fully resolved.
Source: YEN.com.gh
