Villarreal 1 - Deportivo La Coruña 1

Villarreal: López Vallejo; Xavi Roca, Unai, Quique Alvarez, Arruabarrena; Jorge López, Amor (Guayre 76'), Galca, Calleja (Quique Martín 74'); Víctor, Palermo. 4-4-2.
Deportivo: Molina; Héctor, Donato, Naybet, Romero; Mauro Silva (Sergio 70'), Emerson; Scaloni (Diego Tristán 46'), Valerón, Amavisca; Makaay (Víctor 75'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Villarreal: Calleja for Guayre / Deportivo: Héctor, Donato, Emerson, Scaloni, Amavisca for Manuel Pablo, Djorovic, Sergio, Fran, Diego Tristán.

Goals:
0-1. 03. Víctor. Beat keeper from close up after Palermo pass inside.
1-1. 64. Donato. Outswinging free kick which entered top corner of net.

Two of the leading teams Deportivo and Villarreal shared the points in the Madrigal stadium. The home team scored early, with a good team effort as they carved up the Depor defence to leave Víctor free to beat Molina. Jorge López went close and Palermo got the ball in the net only to see it ruled out as the big striker had charged a defender off the ball before shooting past the keeper. Depor though are making a reputation for themselves as a comeback team, and for the fifth match in a row they drew level, this time with a well struck Donato free kick. The players dedicated the goal to Manuel Pablo, who may miss the rest of the season after breaking his leg at the weekend.

Donato almost made it two with an identical dead ball kick minutes later, and Naybet hit the post in the closing minutes which would have given them victory. The only down side for the visitors was an injury to midfield general Mauro Silva, who will miss the match against Barcelona at the weekend. Villarreal drop to third, and Deportivo are now fifth, although only four points separate the top ten sides at this early stage of the season.