Villarreal 1 - Real Sociedad 1

Villarreal: Viera; Josemi, Cygan, Fuentes, José Enrique; Matias Fernández (Pires 59'), Marcos Senna (Cani 49'), Josico, Marcos García; Diego Forlán, Tomasson (Guille Franco 70'). 4-4-2.
Real Sociedad: Riesgo; Gerardo, Ansotegi, Víctor López, Garrido; Garitano, Diego Rivas (Díaz de Cerio 88'); Xabi Prieto, Aranburu (Mikel Alonso 60'), Savio; Kovacevic (Herrera 65'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Villarreal: No change / Real: Riesgo, Ansotegi, Diego Rivas for Bravo, Mikel González, Herrera.

Goals:
0-1. 40. Savio. Fired angled shot back past Viera following Gerardo throw in.
1-1. 58. Josico. Got ahead of defence to head corner past Riesgo from close up.

Villarreal and Real Sociedad drew 1-1 on Sunday night, a result which put the brakes on the locals' push for the UEFA cup spots and left Lotina's side a step closer to relegation. The game got off to a slow start, and the first chance didn't come until midway through the first half when Kovacevic brought a good save out of Viera. Riesgo was replacing the suspended Bravo in the visitors' goal, and he too was called upon to keep out Diego Forlán. But with the first half coming to an end Savio got on the end of Gerardo's long throw to shoot across the local keeper and the Basque side were one up.

Riesgo had to be at his best to keep out Forlán again soon after the restart, but he could do nothing a few minutes later when Josico equalised with a diving header following a corner. Savio and Mikel Alonso both missed the target, and the visitors were hopeful of victory when substitute Cani got himself sent off for a rash tackle on Garrido. But although Xabi Preito and Herrera both had chances late on they were unable to take advantage, and they ended the weekend still at the bottom of the table, nine points away from safety.