Villarreal 3 - Athletic Bilbao 1

Villarreal: Viera; Javi Venta, Gonzalo Rodríguez, Peña (César Arzo 21'), Arruabarrena; Josico (Cazorla 46'), Marcos Senna; Riquelme, José Marí, Sorín (Roger 80'); Diego Forlán. 4-2-3-1.
Athletic: Aranzubia; Iraola, Luis Prieto, Lacruz (Tarantino 66'), Casas; Orbaiz, Ibon Gutiérrez, Gurpegui; Etxeberría, Yeste (Expósito 46'); Llorente (Murillo 55'). 4-3-2-1.

Team changes: Villarreal: Gonzalo Rodríguez for Quique Alvarez / Athletic: Iraola, Ibon Gutiérrez for Expósito, Tiko.

Goals:
0-1. 20. Etxeberría. Picked up Llorente pass and beat Kameni from right of area.
1-1. 45. Riquelme. Fired free kick over wall into far corner from right of area
2-1. 62. José Marí. Header in front of goal after Sorín headed back Venta's cross.
3-1. 78. Marcos Senna. Picked up short free kick and struck long shot over keeper.

Villarreal's shaky start to the season seems to be behind them, and they moved up to eighth spot with a 3-1 win over Athletic Bilbao. Things didn't look so good for Pellegrini's side early on though, Orbaiz hitting the post with a free kick before Exteberría opened the scoring for the visitors, controlling a headed pass from Llorente before beating Viera. And the keeper had to be on his toes to keep out a long shot from Luis Prieto later in the first half.

The turning point came though a minute before half time when Riquelme sent José Marí away, Casas pulling the veteran forward up illegally and earning himself a straight red card. Riquelme took advantage to bend a free kick over the wall in to the far corner of the net, and Villarreal were back in the game.

With an extra man advantage, the locals took over control in the second half. José Marí could have scored a couple of times before he finally headed past Aranzubia after Sorín knocked back Javi Venta's long cross. And Marcos Senna wrapped things up with a screamer from over 30 yards after picking up Riquelme's square free kick. Villarreal had got their first home win of the season, leaving Athletic (who were leading the table after the first day) down in the relegation zone.