Atlético Madrid 3 - Villarreal 2

Atlético: Esteban; Contra, Coloccini, García Calvo, Sergi; Emerson (Luis García 46'), Nagore; Aguilera (Fernando Torres 46'), José Marí (Jorge 54'), Movilla; Javi Moreno. 4-2-3-1.
Villarreal: Reina; Belletti (Palermo 75'), Quique Alvarez, Ballesteros, Arruabarrena; Josico, Farinós (Víctor 71'); Guayre (Javi Venta 63'), Jorge López, Calleja; De Nigris. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Atlético: Javi Moreno for Correa / Villarreal: Guayre for Javi Venta.

Goals:
0-1. 22. Calleja. Following up after Esteban blocked De Nigris shot.
1-1. 31. Arruabarrena (own goal). After Reina let his back pass under his foot.
1-2. 41. Josico. Volleyed ball into net following corner.
2-2. 70. Fernando Torres. Shot from outside of the area into top corner of net.
3-2. 74. Fernando Torres. Ran on to Luis García pass to beat keeper from left.

The Niño is back! A glorious return for Atlético Madrid's Fernando Torres after a six week lay off for injury, the young striker coming on at half time with his team behind and scoring twice to give them a 3-2 win over Villarreal. Although José Marí hit the bar early on, the visitors had deservedly gone in front when Calleja pounced on a loose ball to score. But then under 21 international Reina let his opponents back in the game with the silliest goal of the season, the keeper taking his eye off Arruabarrena's back pass and letting it under his foot, chasing back in vain as it rolled over the line.

The visitors took advantage of slack marking at the back from the home side to restore the lead though before the break, Josico scoring from a Farinós corner, and the home fans booed their side off the field at half time. Luis Aragonés had to do something, and on came Torres and Luis García, who was also returning from injury. It proved to be a master stroke, and the young striker caught Reina with a cracking shot from outside of the area with twenty minutes to go. Then four minutes later Luis García slipped the ball through to him again for him to fire the ball into the roof of the net. Some fans missed it as they had already left the ground early in the second half, but nobody left after that as Esteban kept his side in front with some first class saves.