Villarreal 1 - Hamburg 0

Villarreal: Reina; Armando Sá (Gonzalo Rodríguez 81'), Quique Alvarez, Ballesteros, Arruabarrena; Santi Cazorla, Battaglia, Josico, Roger (Héctor Font 78'); José Marí, Sonny Anderson (Víctor 71'). 4-4-2.
Hamburg: Pieckenhagen; Schlike (Rahn 64'), Van Buyten, Reinhardt, Wicky (Hampel 83'); Benjamin, Jarolim, Beilich, Kling; Mpenza, Romeo. 4-4-2.

Goals:
1-0. 60. Sonny Anderson (penalty). After José Marí fouled by Van Buyten.

A second half penalty from Sonny Anderson was enough to give Villarreal a 1-0 win over Germany's Hamburg, a result which could have been better had the Spaniards taken their chances. Pellegrini's side were unlucky not to have an early penalty when Anderson was brought down by Van Buyten, and the striker had another effort cleared off the line by Wicky with the keeper beaten. Ballesteros and Roger both headed wide soon afterwards, and an active Armando Sá shot just past the post close to half time.

The pressure continued after the break, with Pieckenhagen saving from Cazorla, but Toppmüller's side could have taken a surprise lead when Romeo failed to convert Mpenza's cross. Villarreal finally got the goal they were looking for though when José Marí was fouled by Van Buyten, Anderson making no mistake from the penalty spot. But substitutes Víctor and Font both wasted easy chances near the end, leaving some work to do in the second leg in Germany in a week's time. The clean sheet will be a help though, and Reina has now gone twelve European home games in a row without letting in a goal.