In a poignant La Liga encounter that blended sporting rivalry with deep personal history, Villarreal striker Gerard Moreno returned to haunt his former club Espanyol, scoring against them for the first time in his career before receiving a standing ovation from the very fans he had just disappointed.
A Long-Awaited Moment Against His Former Club
The veteran forward, who began his football journey at Espanyol as an eight-year-old, had never found the net against his boyhood team in eleven years since departing. That changed on Saturday when Moreno struck a first-time shot from the edge of the area after 41 minutes, giving Villarreal a lead they would never relinquish in their 2-0 victory.
What happened immediately after the goal proved more remarkable than the strike itself. The 33-year-old instantly raised his hands in apology, refusing to celebrate against the club where he spent his formative years. The Espanyol faithful responded with brief silence before ultimately applauding their former hero, culminating in a heartfelt ovation when he was substituted later in the match.
From Rejection to Redemption
Moreno's journey back to the club that shaped him is one of football's compelling narratives. Despite joining Espanyol as a child and coming from a football-obsessed family in Santa Perpètua – his father was a striker and his brother a number 10 – the club released him from their under-16s squad.
The setback proved temporary but transformative. Under the guidance of coach Manolo González at third-tier Badalona, Moreno scored an astonishing 41 goals in 32 games for the under-19s. His performances attracted interest from Real Madrid, but he had already committed to Villarreal, beginning a journey that would see him become one of Spain's most respected forwards.
Espanyol eventually re-signed him for a three-year spell, but financial pressures forced his return to Villarreal in 2018, where he has remained since, winning the Zarra trophy twice as the top-scoring Spaniard in La Liga.
Overcoming Injury Doubts
This emotional return comes amid a career resurgence for Moreno, who had seen his progress hampered by persistent injury problems. Since the start of last season alone, he had missed 176 days through various fitness issues, with many wondering if his best days were behind him.
His recent form suggests otherwise. The goal against Espanyol marked his third in as many weeks, matching his entire tally from the previous season. In just 313 minutes of football this campaign, he has outperformed all of Villarreal's other centre-forwards, demonstrating the clever movement and clinical finishing that once made him Spain's premier striker.
The victory propelled Villarreal briefly into second place in La Liga with 26 points from 12 matches, their best start in years. Espanyol, meanwhile, saw their European ambitions dented, remaining in sixth position with 18 points.
As the stadium emptied after the final whistle, a group of Espanyol supporters remained, singing the name of the man who had finally scored against them. Moreno acknowledged the moment, stating: "I spent many years and I'm so grateful for the affection they show me. There's lots of emotion every time I come here, and a lot of respect. Now that I feel good again, all I want to do is enjoy this moment."
