Valladolid 1 - Villarreal 0

Valladolid: Ricardo; Torres Gómez, Mario, Santamaría, Tena, Marcos; Oscar, Jesús, Luis García (Chema 72'); Tote (Fernando Sales 91'), Cuauhtèmoc Blanco (Eusebio 65'). 5-3-2.
Villarreal: López Vallejo; Galván (Escoda 65'), Quique Alvarez, Unai, Arruabarrena; Jorge López (Guayre 65'), Galca, Cagna (Craioveanu 88'), Calleja; Víctor, Palermo. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Valladolid: Mario, Santamaría, Luis García for Ricchetti, Peña, Eusebio / Villarreal: Galván, Cagna for Xavi Roca, Guayre.

Goals:
1-0. 18. Tote. First time shot after Cuauhtèmoc laid ball across from left.

Villarreal's bad run continued, and they drop down the table to twelfth after losing to Valladolid, their sixth game in a row without a win. The only goal of the game came from the home side's on-form striker Tote, who got his sixth of the season after Cuauhtèmoc set him up in the first half. It was however an open game, with both sides creating chances throughout the game. Apart from Tote's goal, the first half belonged to the visitors, with on-form keeper Ricardo keeping out efforts from Palermo, Unai and Jorge López and Palermo having a claim for a penalty turned down when debutant Mario brought him down.

Valladolid improved in the second half though, with quick breaks out of defence almost catching the East coast side on the hop. López Vallejo saved from Oscar, and substitute Chema missed a sitter near the end with the keeper stranded. At the other end, Ricardo made another good stop from Escoda. Veteran midfielder Eusebio came on in the second half having received an award before the game for the outfield player with most appearances in the Spanish league, and he helped steer his side to their second home win of the season. They move up to the top half of the table, a point ahead of their opponents.