Villarreal 2 - Atlético Madrid 0

Villarreal: Reina; Armando Sá, Gonzalo Rodríguez, Quique Alvarez, Arruabarrena; Santi Cazorla (Riquelme 67'), Josico, Marcos Senna, Roger (Héctor Font 80'); José Marí, Sonny Anderson (Víctor 89'). 4-4-2.
Atlético: Leo Franco; Contra, Perea, Pablo, Sergi; Simeone (Paunovic 66'), Colsa; Aguilera (Jorge 87'), Ibagaza, Musampa (Nano 78'); Fernando Torres. 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 53. Roger. Following up after Leo Franco blocked shot from Anderson.
2-0. 76. Rodríguez. On far post after Anderson headed back Riquelme free kick.

Villarreal are on track for their second Intertoto cup title in a row and a place in the UEFA cup after beating Atlético Madrid 2-0 in the first leg of their final. Pellegrini's side had the better of the first half but couldn't find the route to goal, with new boy Gonzalo Rodríguez heading just over the bar in the first minute, Leo Franco blocking a shot from José Marí and Pablo clearing the rebound off the line, and Marcos Senna sending a free kick just wide of the post. Atlético's only reply was header from Perea following a corner close to the interval.

The pressure continued after the break, and within ten minutes Villarreal were ahead, Sergi's bad clearance being played into the area by Roger. Anderson's effort was blocked by Leo Franco, but Roger followed up to turn the ball into the net. Both sides made attacking changes after the goal, Paunovic coming on for Simeone and Riquelme making his first appearance of the season after recovering from an injury, replacing Cazorla. Fernando Torres had a goal disallowed for a borderline offside, but five minutes later the home side made it two, Anderson nodding back Riquleme's free kick for Rodríguez to head in from close to goal.

José Marí and Anderson both had a chance to finish things off near the end, but neither could quite reach Senna's dangerous cross. And Sá and Ibagaza were both lucky to get off with yellow cards as nerves frayed in the closing minutes. In the end though the advantage was clearly in favour of the locals, who have now gone thirteen European home games without letting in a goal. The return leg in two weeks' time promises to be a thriller.