Cazorla Double Lifts Chukwueze’s Villareal Past Etebo’s Getafe; Ajayi Returns In Albion Win

Samuel Chukwueze featured in his 34th La Liga game of the season as Villarreal claimed an excellent 3-1 win over Getafe at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez on Wednesday evening.

The ageless Santi Cazorla converted two second-half penalties, and Pena added a third late on to help the Yellow Submarines brush past the hapless home side who had Duro to thank for their consolation goal.

There was no Oghenekaro Etebo for the hosts as the on-loan Nigerian midfielder continues to recuperate from an injury.

With the victory, Villarreal are now three points behind fourth-placed Sevilla – they have a game in hand – who sit in the final Champions League spot.

In the Serie A, Super Eagles defender Ola Aina saw action for the last quarter of an hour to help Torino see out a 3-1 win over Brescia at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino.

The visitors opened the scoring on the night courtesy of a Torregrossa strike. But a Mateju own goal levelled the scores shortly after the break before Belotti and Zaza found the back of the net to hand Torino their second victory since mid-January.

Meanwhile, in England, West Bromwich Albion moved to the top of the Sky Bet Championship table – at least until Leeds face Stoke City on Thursday – after Nigeria’s Semi Ajayi helped the Baggies cruise to a comfortable 2-0 triumph over a Wayne Rooney-inspired Derby County.

Ajayi returned to the starting lineup after sitting out the thrilling 4-2 thrashing of Hull City three days ago to aid the home side in keeping yet another clean sheet. 

Egyptian centre-back Ahmed Hegazi scored and then received his marching orders in that game to facilitate Ajayi’s return to first-eleven duties, after having been left on the bench since West Brom’s 1-0 loss at Brentford. 

Slaven Bilic’s men have lost just six games all campaign and now need eight more points from their last four matches to secure their Premier League status for next season.