Villarreal 1 - Mallorca 1

Villarreal: Reina; Belletti, Quique Alvarez, Ballesteros, Arruabarrena; César Arzo (De Nigris 60'), Quique Medina; Guayre (Javi Venta 80'), Farinós, Calleja (Víctor 60'); Palermo. 4-2-3-1.
Mallorca: Leo Franco; David Cortés, Lussenhoff, Fernando Niño, Poli; Novo (Marcos 87'), Lozano, Ibagaza (Turu Flores 80'), Riera (Campano 56'); Eto'o, Pandiani. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Villarreal: Ballesteros, César Arzo, Quique Medina, Calleja, Palermo for Unai, Josico, Jorge López, Víctor, De Nigris / Mallorca: Lozano for Marcos.

Goals:
1-0. 22. Palermo. Headed ball past keeper from Guayre's chipped cross.
1-1. 40. Eto'o. Controlled pass from Ibagaza and shot low across Reina.

Villarreal and Mallorca both inched a little closer to safety after they shared the points in a 1-1 draw. Benito Floro included under 17 international César Arzo as one of five changes in his line up, but for the first quarter of an hour or so they couldn't get it together, Cortés almost taking advantage to chip a shot over Reina. Slowly though the home side started to gel, and a sweet move down the right wing between Belletti, Palermo and Guayre ended with the big Argentine striker heading the opening goal past Leo Franco.

The home side should have added to their lead, but Mallorca equalised against the run of play shortly before the interval when Eto'o collected a through ball from Ibagaza to score. The visitors were buoyed up by their goal and dominated the second half, but the slippery conditions on a wet pitch meant that the scoreline remained unaltered in the end despite a hatful of chances for both sides in the closing minutes. Mallorca ended the weekend in eleventh spot, with their opponents still two points behind them in thirteenth.