Villarreal 1 - Oviedo 0

Villarreal: López Vallejo; Galván, Quique Álvarez, Berruet, Arruabarrena; Jorge López (Escoda 65'), Amor, Cagna, Calleja (Gracia 65'); Víctor, Craioveanu (Moisés 86'). 4-4-2.
Oviedo: Esteban; Keita, Danjou, Martinovic, Boris (Ivo 78'); Amieva (Rubén 60'), Onopko, Tomic, Iván Ania (Möller 78'); Losada, Oli. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Villarreal: Craioveanu for Marioni / Oviedo: None.

Goals:
1-0. 13. Arruabarrena. Strong header in penalty area after Amor cross on left

The man known as the Basque, Argentinian defender Rodolfo Arruabarrena, proved why Villarreal were prepared to splash out big money in the close season to secure his services. Rolfi rose above the Oviedo defence early in the match to head home what proved to be the winning goal, and was instrumental in keeping out the Oviedo attack on their rare counter-attacks. Both managers decided to rely on their teams from last week, the only change being in the home side, where Víctor Muñoz replaced Marioni, suspended for four games after his sending off last week, with Romania's Craioveanu.

Villarreal dominated most of the match, with Oviedo unable to mount a serious attack in all the first half. The only danger came from an effort by Tomic which Berruet cleared, and a possible by penalty by Arruabarrena on Losada close to half time which referee Puentes Leira ignored. Villarreal's most expensive new signing, Víctor, missed a couple of easy chances in the second half, and Oviedo's keeper Esteban was once again their best player. Their manager Radomir Antic brought on forwards Rubén and Möller in the second half, but their long balls out of defence did not find their mark and Villarreal recorded their second 1-0 victory in a row to move up to the top half of the table. Oviedo are struggling near the bottom with only one point, and are already looking like relegation fodder. Antic may already be checking the job adverts in the Sunday papers.