Three roles and a goal: USMNT’s ‘super player’ Alex Freeman is breaking out for Villarreal

The Orlando City product scored his first goal in La Liga, playing three positions in a comeback win While most of La Liga’s oxygen was consumed by the first El Clásico since Jose Mourinho returned to Real Madrid, another rivalry clash put Alex Freeman in spotlight position. While not among the most storied derbies in Spain, Valencia v Villarreal has grown into a regional contest with considerable teeth since billionaire Fernando Roig bought Villarreal rather than following his brother, Paco, as the head of Valencia. For Freeman, who came off the bench in a midweek Champions League loss to Liverpool, his first taste of the rivalry on Saturday came in a somewhat unfamiliar position – left back.

Freeman largely looked the part away from his usual spot on the right, living up to Mauricio Pochettino’s praise of his reading of the game from the United States’ most recent international window. Freeman had a good chance to test the efficacy of his left foot, creating a pair of chances before Valencia opened the scoring from the penalty spot. It seemed Villarreal’s best chance at an equalizer would come through a set piece, but instead it came from the run of play –