Partey debuts with Villarreal: Amidst boos and applause in LaLiga

Midfielder Thomas Partey, formerly of Arsenal and Atletico Madrid, debuted for Villarreal in his first LaLiga match, coming on as a substitute in the 2-0 victory against Real Oviedo, who played with ten men. Partey, who was granted bail last week after being charged with five counts of rape and one of sexual assault, entered the field in the 82nd minute. His entrance generated a mixture of boos and applause from Villarreal fans, as he replaced Santi Comesaña. The Ghanaian international, who denies all accusations, left Arsenal at the end of his contract in June and joined Villarreal in August.

Villarreal midfielder Thomas Partey made his first LaLiga appearance on Friday since moving to the Premier League in 2020.The newly promoted Real Oviedo missed a penalty in the 14th minute, when Villarreal’s goalkeeper, Luiz Júnior, stopped Salomón Rondón’s shot. Later, in the first half, Oviedo was left with 10 players after Alberto Reina’s second yellow card. Etta Eyong put Villarreal ahead two minutes later, and Pape Gueye scored the second before halftime. In another match, Rayo Vallecano defeated Girona 3-1, who also finished with ten players. Jorge de Frutos and Álvaro García’s goals put Rayo 2-0 up in the first half, before Girona’s goalkeeper, Paulo Gazzaniga, was sent off. Isi Palazón converted the resulting penalty. Joel Roca scored for Girona in the second half.

The way I see it, they were Girona’s mistakes, we all made the mistakes together. The mistakes were so bad that we can only see them as accidents.

Miguel Ángel Sánchez, Girona coachBarcelona, the current champion, debuts in Mallorca on Saturday. Atletico Madrid visits Espanyol on Sunday, while Real Madrid receives Osasuna on Tuesday.