Rayo Vallecano 0 - Villarreal 1

Rayo: Keller; Alcázar, Ballesteros, De Quintana, Mingo; Glaucio, Poschner, Quevedo, Michel; Bolic, Bolo (Luis Cembranos 46'). 4-4-2.
Villarreal: López Vallejo, Xavi Roca (Galván 63'), Quique Alvarez, Unai, Berruet, Arruabarrena; Amor (Jorge López 72'), Javier Gracia, Cagna; Víctor, Craioveanu (Moisés 87'). 5-3-2.

Team changes: Rayo: No change / Villarreal: Unai, Javier Gracia, Víctor for Jorge López, Calleja, Moisés.

Goals:
0-1. 86. Craioveanu. Shot low past keeper from left of penalty area.

Villarreal got their revenge for the 1-5 defeat they suffered in the opening game of the season, beating Rayo for the first time ever at Vallecas thanks to a single Craioveanu goal late in the match. All talk during the week was about the possible appearance of Villarreal's flamboyant new signings Palermo and Schelotto, but in the end manager Víctor Muñoz decided after consulting both players that they were not quite match fit, and left them both back at home. That gave a last opportunity for Craioveanu to prove himself, and he took his chance with a well struck goal four minutes from time after receiving a through ball from substitute Galván. Once Palermo is fit his strike partner will almost certainly be Víctor, another big signing by the ambitious East coast side in the summer, and he came back into the team together with Unai after both served out a one match suspension. Muñoz, himself back on the bench after a two match ban, also brought in Javier Gracia in his usual more defensive away formation.

Despite not having won at home for three games, Juande Ramos kept to the line up that drew against Las Palmas last week, the manager deciding that the heavy conditions were not ideal for Luis Cembranos, only recently back after a long injury. Glaucio kept his place on the right of midfield, and it looked like a good decision as the Brazilian was involved in the first two efforts at goal, testing Keller in the first minute and just failing to get on the end of a Bolic through ball a short time later. Both sides had chances in an open first half, the best falling to Rayo through Bolo and Poschner, although Craioveanu should have done better on the stroke of half time when he put a first time shot over the bar.

Ramos brought on Luis Cembranos at the break for Bolo, who had taken a heavy knock on the nose in the first half, and the new man just failed to beat López Vallejo to another pinpoint Poschner free kick ten minutes in to the half. But then the visitors took control, with Keller outstanding keeping out shots from Gracia, Berruet, Víctor and a Unai free kick. Víctor Muñoz smelt blood and brought on fresh legs, and it was one of his substitutes Galván who found Craioveanu to finally drive the ball wide of the American keeper. It was an important victory for Villarreal who move up level with Rayo on points, although their inferior goal average, both general and particular, means that the Madrid based side keep sixth place with Villarreal now up to seventh. Both should be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.