VAR controversy as Espanyol's disallowed goal sparks fury in Villarreal defeat
Omar El Hilali's ruled-out strike adds to Espanyol's woes as their winless 2026 continues with another defeat at the hands of Marcelino's superior Villarreal side.
Espanyol’s frustrations boiled over after a contentious disallowed goal during their defeat to Villarreal, extending their miserable run to five losses in six matches.
VAR Drama Adds to Espanyol’s Misery
It’s going from bad to worse for Manolo González’s men, who are still searching for their first win of 2026. The Pericos were left absolutely fuming after referee Cordero Vega chalked off what they thought was the opening goal in the 12th minute.
Omar El Hilali had tucked away a loose ball in the area, sending the travelling fans into raptures. However, their joy was short-lived as the official signalled for a previous foul by Roberto Fernández on Cardona – a decision that looked softer than a newborn’s pillow.
Despite the VAR having a butcher’s hook at the incident, the on-field decision stood. Espanyol were convinced Cardona had made a meal of minimal contact during the tussle for position, with the Villarreal defender’s theatrical tumble ultimately rewarded.
From Bad to Worse
The controversy didn’t end there. Espanyol players were adamant there was a foul by Pape Gueye in the build-up to Villarreal’s second goal, but their protests fell on deaf ears. By half-time, the club had taken to social media to express their disgust at what they perceive as consistently poor officiating in recent fixtures.
On the pitch, there was a clear gulf in class as Marcelino’s Villarreal dominated proceedings. The second half saw Espanyol thoroughly outplayed as they shipped more goals in what turned into a proper hammering.
Season in Crisis
The defeat marks another low point in what’s becoming a nightmare 2026 for Espanyol:
- Five defeats in their last six league matches
- Still without a single win this calendar year
- Growing frustration with officiating decisions
González will need to find answers quickly as his side’s form continues to plummet. While they’ll feel hard done by with today’s officiating, the margin of defeat suggests there are deeper problems to address beyond controversial decisions.