Villarreal 0 - Betis 1

Villarreal: Viera; Angel (Pires 74'), Fuentes, Godín, Capdevila; Cazorla, Marcos Senna, Bruno (Cani 46'), Mati Fernández; Tomasson (Nihat 62'); Guille Franco. 4-4-2.
Betis: Ricardo; Ilic, Juanito, Rivas, Babic; Arzu, Rivera; Edu, Capi (Melli 58'), Mark González (Damià 35'); Xisco. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Villarreal: Angel, Godín, Cazorla, Mati Fernández, Tomasson for Javi Venta, Cygan, Cani, Nihat, Pires / Betis: Ilic, Juanito, Rivas, Babic, Rivera, Capi, Mark González for Damià, Zamora, Melli, Fernando Vega, Somoza, Sobis, Pavone.

Goals:
0-1. 09. Capi. Ran on unmarked to head Xisco's cross down past Viera.

Villarreal lost ground on the leaders after a 0-1 defeat at the hands of struggling Betis. Paco Chaparro was in charge of the Andalusians for the first time after Héctor Cúper was fired the week before, the second team coach already having experience of taking over in a crisis after stepping in to save them from relegation in the last match of last season. Chaparro made seven changes to the line-up, and he seemed to have got it right when his side took the lead in the ninth minute, an unmarked Capi heading Xisco's cross down past Viera.

After that though they were under constant pressure, Ricardo saving from Cazorla and Senna and Mati Fernández and Fuentes going close. Cazorla hit the post before the break, and Ricardo was in action after the restart to stop a shot from Capdevila and a couple of efforts from Nihat. Betis held on though for three vital points which takes them to within a point of safety. Villarreal drop to fourth after three games now without a win.