Villarreal 4 - Deportivo 3

Villarreal: Viera; Josemi, Cygan, Fuentes, Capdevila; Marcos Senna, Bruno (Cani 56'); Cazorla, Nihat, Pires (Tomasson 63'); Rossi (Josico 73'). 4-2-3-1.
Deportivo: Fabricio; Laure, Pablo Amo, Coloccini, Filipe; Sergio, De Guzmán (Verdú 75'); Guardado, Juan Rodríguez, Riki (Bodipo 68'); Adrián López (Xisco 61'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Villarreal: Josemi, Cygan, Bruno, Cazorla, Nihat for Angel, Godín, Mavuba, Cani, Mati Fernández / Deportivo: Fabricio, Laure, Pablo Amo, Juan Rodríguez, Riki, Adrián López for Munúa, Barragán, Piscu, Rubén Castro, Lafita, Bodipo.

Goals:
0-1. 27. Sergio (penalty). After Josemi pushed over Pablo Amo inside area.
1-1. 30. Rossi (penalty). After Nihat free kick hit Adrián on upraised arm.
1-2. 58. Pablo Amo. Poked shot in from close up after Riki laid ball across.
2-2. 66. Nihat. Following up after Fabricio pushed out long shot from Senna.
3-2. 68. Nihat. Picked up Cazorla pass and shot over keeper from wide out.
4-2. 80. Tomasson (penalty). After Pablo Amo sent off for foul on Tomasson.
4-3. 90. Guardado. Chipped shot over head of keeper from outside of area.

Villarreal moved back up to fifth after a thrilling 4-3 win over Deportivo, their first victory in the Madrigal stadium in two months. The visitors went in front twice, Sergio opening the scoring from the penalty spot after Josemi pushed over Pablo Amo in the area. Rossi replied with a second penalty after Nihat's free kick hit Adrián on the arm, and stand-in keeper Fabricio (Aouate and Munúa were both suspended by the club after a fight) did well to save from Nihat. But Pablo Amo restored the lead early in the second half after Riki played across a Guardado corner.

Nihat scored twice in three minutes though to turn the scoreline around, the first on the follow up after Fabricio could only parry a shot from Marcos Senna, and the second with a high shot over the keeper from wide out. Tomasson converted a third penalty after Pablo Amo pulled down the Danish striker, the defender being shown a red card for the tackle. And Guardado rounded off the scoring with a shot over Viera from right of the area, the goal coming too late to change the result. Depor ended the weekend in next to bottom spot, four points away from safety, and coach Miguel Angel Lotina's days may be numbered.