Villarreal 2 - Betis 1

Villarreal: Diego López; Angel, Gonzalo, Godín, Javi Venta; Cazorla, Eguren, Marcos Senna (Pires 60'), Ibagaza; Rossi (Guille Franco 59'), Llorente (Bruno 77'). 4-4-2.
Betis: Casto; Nelson, Arzu, Juanito, Fernando Vega (Juanma 77'); Mehmet Aurelio; Damià, Emaná, Capi, Mark González (Monzón 61'); José Marí (Pavone 86'). 4-1-4-1.

Team changes: Villarreal: Angel, Gonzalo, Eguren, Cazorla, Rossi for Fuentes, Capdevila, Edmilson, Mati Fernández, Nihat / Betis: Fernando Vega, Mark González for Monzón, Sergio García.

Goals:
0-1. 20. Damià. Got between defenders to sweep Mark González cross past Diego.
1-1. 68. Gonzalo. Guided long header over Casto from Ibagaza's wide free kick.
2-1. 70. Llorente. Turned ball past keeper after Pires played back Ibagaza cross.

Yellow cards: Arzu 21', Capi 42', Javi Venta 47', Ibagaza 51', Gonzalo 53', José Marí 53', Mehmet 67', Pires 81', Emaná 87', Eguren 94'.

Villarreal rounded off another great week, following up their Champions League victory with a 2-1 win over Betis which takes them back to the top of the table. They suffered at the start though, the visitors dominating the first half and going ahead when Damìa turned Mark González's cross past Diego López. Rossi had to clear a Juanito header off the line soon afterwards, Diego López kept out efforts from Emaná and Capi, and Emaná drove another shot inches wide of the post.

The locals didn't respond until Marcos Senna fired a free kick just over the bar shortly before the break, but Cazorla and Eguren both went close soon after the restart. Damià came close to increasing the lead with a carbon copy of his earlier strike, this time over the top, but soon afterwards Gonzalo equalised with a long header into the far top corner of the net from Ibagaza's free kick. And before Betis had time to react Pellegrini's side struck again, Llorente finishing off after Pires played in another cross from Ibagaza.

Another professional performance by the "Yellow Submarine", and right now they are sitting on top of the pile. Betis stay in the bottom three, although having run the "big four" gauntlet they can only improve.