Villarreal 1 - AZ Alkmaar 2

Alkmaar: Timmer, Kromkamp, Opdam, Jaliens, Buskermolen (De Cler 67'); Landzaat, Lindenbergh, Van Galen (Ramzi 80'), Sektioui; Nelisse (Hutsegems 84'), Pérez. 4-4-2.
Villarreal: Reina; Armando Sá, Gonzalo Rodríguez, César Arzo, Arruabarrena; Riquelme, Josico (Héctor Font 73'), Marcos Senna, Sorín (Cazorla 60'); José Marí (Guayre 80'), Figueroa. 4-4-2.

Goals:
0-1. 12. Landzaat. Took pass from Nelisse and beat Reina from edge of area.
1-1. 14. Riquelme. Picked up return pass from Figueroa and shot past Timmer.
1-2. 74. Nelisse. Beat Reina on follow up after keeper saved his first shot.

Villarreal are on the verge of being knocked out of the UEFA cup after losing their first leg match against Alkmaar. Pellegrini's side had gone eighteen home matches in Europe without letting in a single goal, but despite a good start they were caught out in the twelfth minute when Landzaat beat Reina from the edge of the area.

Figueroa had gone close with a header a few minutes earlier, and the Argentine striker set up Riquelme to level the scores just a couple of minutes after Landzaat's strike. And the Spaniards should have taken the lead a quarter of an hour later after Kromkamp fouled Figueroa in the area, but Timmer guessed correctly and dived to save Riquelme's penalty kick.

Riquelme continued to run the show as the game progressed, setting up Senna, Arruabarrena and José Marí for them all to test the Dutch keeper. Sorín had an appeal for a second penalty turned down near the break, and Riquelme fired another chance over the bar after the restart.

Alkmaar were always dangerous on the breakaway though, and with a quarter of an hour remaining Nelisse put them back in front, beating Reina at the second attempt after the keeper had blocked his first shot from Kromkamp's cross. Pellegrini brought on Guayre after that, but the Spanish international forward was unable to finish off when set up by Cazorla. Villarreal's home record had gone, and they will now have an uphill battle next week if they are to keep alive Spain's interest in European competitions this season.