After losing 2-0 to Olympiacos in their last UCL match, Bayer Leverkusen knew that they needed a victory to guarantee a place in the knockout round playoff spots.
They started the game dominantly, looking in control from the off, until they managed to make the breakthrough after just 13 minutes. Malik Tillman gave Die Werkself the lead in truly bizarre fashion, as the American closed down Arnau Tenas, who was caught out as his clearance struck the attacker and bounced into the goal.
Kasper Hjulmand’s men continued to probe at the Villarreal defence as the first half went on, and went agonisingly close to doubling their lead with 26 minutes played, but Ibrahim Maza’s effort from the edge of the penalty area rattled the foot of the right post.
Leverkusen continued to build momentum and did manage to finally get their second goal 10 minutes before the break, with Tillman scoring his second of the game by firing a first-time strike into the bottom-right corner from the edge of the penalty area.
The opening 10 minutes of the second half were quiet, with neither side managing as much as a shot. However, Leverkusen burst into life with little under an hour played, netting their third courtesy of Alejandro Grimaldo.
The Spaniard piled the misery onto The Yellow Submarine after combining with his compatriot Lucas Vazquez before drilling the ball into the near bottom-left corner.
The third goal appeared to completely kill off the game, with Leverkusen seeming to be comfortable with the idea of settling for a 3-0 victory, with the knowledge that their place in the knockout round play-off stage was secured.
Meanwhile, Villarreal crashed out of the competition horrifically, finishing joint-bottom of the league phase, only finishing above rock-bottom Kairat Almaty on goal difference.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen)