Villarreal 1 - Málaga 2

Villarreal: López Vallejo; Xavi Roca, Quique Alvarez, Unai (Berruet 40'), Arruabarrena; Jorge López, Amor (Javier Gracia 55'), Cagna, Schelotto (Craioveanu 42'); Víctor, Palermo. 4-4-2.
Málaga: Contreras; Rojas, Bravo, Larrainzar (Fernando Sanz 65'), Roteta; Rufete, Movilla, De los Santos, Sandro (Zárate 65'); Darío Silva, Dely Valdés (Canabal 93'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Villarreal: Schelotto for Galván / Málaga: Contreras, Roteta, Sandro for Rafa, Iznata, Zárate.

Goals:
0-1. 44. Darío Silva. Chested down De los Santos headed pass and beat keeper.
1-1. 65. Arruabarrena. Forced in with thigh after Contreras dropped ball.
1-2. 81. Darío Silva. Ran on to Quique Alvarez miskick to drive ball past keeper.

Two goals by Darío Silva sank high flying Villarreal and threw the fight for UEFA cup spots wide open. Villarreal's run of four victories in a row came to an end with their defeat at Valencia last week, but they still held on to sixth spot, taking a four point lead over their immediate rivals in to this game. With a 'loco' (literally madman) on both team sheets, Palermo and Silva, the ground was packed to bursting for the third match in a row, the first time that these two teams had met in their history at the Madrigal stadium. Víctor Muñoz brought in his fourth signing from Boca Juniors, Schelotto, for his first game, although the Argentinian was unlucky to pick up an injury in the first half, and after staying on long enough to hit the crossbar with a header, he reluctantly had to go off before the break to be replaced by Craioveanu. Unai too had to leave the field injured before half time, with Berruet taking his place.

Málaga have had a so-so season to date, but with the Darío Silva - Dely Valdés partnership starting to gel they are getting some good results. Joaquín Peiró brought in Sandro for his first start of the season, but has yet to find a replacement for the injured Valcarce at left back. Roteta took the position this time, and he went close with a header as Málaga dominated early on. Just before the break Darío Silva's speed took him round the keeper for him to volley the visitors into a deserved lead. Shortly after the break they should have been given a penalty, referee Daudén Ibáñez not seeing a clear hand ball by Larrainzar, and in another action Darío Silva and Rufete failed to capitalize on a good opportunity.

But then Villarreal finally got their act together, and shortly after Jorge López headed against the inside of the post, Arruabarrena forced the ball over the line with his thigh. It was a controversial goal, Contreras catching the ball marginally over the line and being fouled in the process, but it counted. Then with seven minutes to go a miskick by Quique Alvarez let in Darío Silva, and he made no mistake volleying past López Vallejo for his tenth of the season. The result takes Málaga to within four points of their rivals, in the middle of a group of nine teams separated by four points. They all have their eyes on Villarreal's sixth spot, but with none of the teams immediately below Villarreal winning, they keep a three point gap for now. They do need to return to winning ways though, or the hounds will be upon them. It's a tough life for foxes these days.