Heerenveen 1 - Villarreal 2

Heerenveen: Vonk; Seip, Hansson, Klompe (Bakkati 70'), Edman; Knopper, Radomski (De Lange 46'), Väyrynen, Selakovic (Samaras 64'); Sibon, Dennebom. 4-4-2.
Villarreal: Reina; Javi Venta, Quique Alvarez, Ballesteros, Arruabarrena; Belletti, Coloccini, Pedro Martí, Calleja (Guayre 64'); José Marí (Anderson 70'), Víctor (Marcos Senna 87'). 4-4-2.

Goals:
0-1. 12. Calleja. Turned square pass from Arruabarrena wide of Vonk.
1-1. 25. Ballesteros (own goal). Lifted ball past Reina trying to cut out cross.
1-2. 44. Víctor. Ran on to José Marí through ball and chipped keeper.

Villarreal look like they are heading towards a first ever appearance in Europe after winning the first leg of their Intertoto cup final at Heereveen. With Jorge López dropped from the squad after falling out with management over a possible improved contract, Benito Floro surprised everyone drafting in central defender Coloccini in a midfield role. The move worked to perfection though in the twelfth minute when he won the ball and sent away Calleja for him to work a quick passing move with Arruabarrena and score a vital away goal.

The Dutch side equalised midway through the first half when Ballesteros deflected a cross from Väyrynen over Reina into his own net, and they could have taken the lead had Reina not produced a spectacular save from Sibon. But on the stroke of half time José Marí found Víctor for him to chip Vonk and restore the lead. After that the Spaniards decided to play keep-ball, maintaining possession as long as possible much to the frustration of the local crowd. Víctor and Guayre could even have extended the lead near the end, but the win should in any case be good enough to take Villarreal through to the first round of the UEFA cup when the two sides meet in the second leg in a fortnight's time.