Villarreal: Andrés Fernández, Rukavina, Álvaro González, Víctor Ruiz, José Angel, Jonathan Dos Santos (Samu Castillejo 71’), N'Diaye, Bruno, Cheryshev (Roberto Soriano 81’); Santos Borré (Sansone 67’), Alexandre Pato. 4-4-2.
Zurich: Vanins, Brunner, Kecojevic, Nef, Bangura, Voser; Winter (Schonbachler 65’), Kukeli, Sarr (Yapi 37’), Roberto Rodríguez (Cavusevic 84’); Sadiku. 5-4-1.
Goals:
0-1. 02. Sadiku. Collected ball outside of area and struck shot across Andrés..
1-1. 28. Alexandre Pato. Picked up Dos Santos pass and shot across Vanins.
2-1. 45. Jonathan Dos Santos. Volley across keeper after Pato passed to him.
Yellow cards: Jonathan Dos Santos 21’, Voser 22’, Winter 51’, Kukeli 64’, Kecojevic 86’, Nef 93’.
Villarreal came from behind to beat FC Zurich 2-1 in their first Europa League group game. Fran Escribá’s side came in to the match full of confidence, knowing that the Swiss cup winners had been relegated to their second division this season. However with only a minute on the clock Sadiku picked up a loose pass by N’Diaye and ran on to fire a long shot wide of Andrés. Pato went close a couple of times though before he picked up a through ball from Jonathan Dos Santos to level the scores, and with half time approaching Dos Santos combined with Pato to volley home a second. After the interval Sarr felt he should have had a penalty when Víctor Ruíz brought him down in the area, and Santos Borré tested Vanins a couple of times, but in the end the locals held on for the win.