MADRID: Roberto Soldado’s two-year stint at English club Tottenham Hotspur was widely considered a failure but the former Spain forward appears to have rediscovered his scoring touch on his return to La Liga with Villarreal.

Soldado struck in the Europa League participants’ 1-1 draw at Real Betis on the opening weekend of the season and was also on target in Friday’s 3-1 comeback win at home to Espanyol.

The 30-year-old, who last played for Spain in September 2013, his 12th appearance, joined Tottenham from Valencia but only managed 16 goals in 76 games for the London club.

After Felipe Caicedo put Espanyol ahead in the sixth minute at El Madrigal, Soldado equalised with a volley in the 67th before he set up two late goals for substitute Cedric Bakambu to complete a come-from-behind victory for Villarreal.

Congo forward Bakambu put the hosts ahead in the 87th minute and then netted again in injury time as Villarreal moved to four points while Espanyol remained on three.

Villarreal’s assistant coach Ruben Uria said after Friday’s match that with Soldado, Bakambu and Brazilian Leo Baptistao, the club had plenty of talent up front to help them in their Europa League campaign.

“The club made a big effort to look for players with finishing ability,” Uria told reporters. “I think that right now we have three forwards of a very high level and we have to make sure they adapt as soon as possible.”

Villarreal were drawn in Europa League Group ‘E’ with Viktoria Plzen, Rapid Vienna and Dinamo Minsk.—Agencies

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play