Villarreal 0 - Sevilla 2

Villarreal: López Vallejo; Xavi Roca, Unai, Quique Alvarez, Arruabarrena; Jorge López (Pizzi 61'), Amor, Cagna, Calleja (Galca 46'); Víctor, Craioveanu (Guayre 46'). 4-4-2.
Sevilla: Notario; Njegus, Javi Navarro, Pablo Alfaro, David; Mario (Juanmi 70'), Casquero, Francisco (Víctor Sales 80'), Fredi; Reyes (Olivera 17'), Moisés. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Villarreal: Xavi Roca, Calleja for Galván, Guayre / Sevilla: Pablo Alfaro, Mario for Prieto, Gallardo.

Goals:
0-1. 24. Casquero. Ran on to short Fredi free kick to shoot low through wall.
0-2. 89. Moisés. Tapped in from close up after square cross in from right wing.

The game between Villarreal and Sevilla took place on Saturday evening in order for the players to be with their families for the traditional gift giving three kings' day on Sunday. But it was the home side who gave out the presents early to their visitors, allowing them to take away the three points with a 0-2 victory. The home side started well, with Jorge López coming close to scoring twice in the first twenty minutes. However Sevilla, who lost their young striker Reyes to injury early on, came back and Moisés brought a good save out his ex team mate López Vallejo from a free kick. A couple of minutes later they were awarded another in front of goal, and this time Casquero drove the ball low through the wall to open the scoring. When Villarreal were reduced to ten men before half time after Amor got himself a second booking for handling the ball, the visitors were in the driving seat.

Víctor Muñoz had been saving his new signing Juan Antonio Pizzi for the second half, but at the break he decided to leave him for later, putting on Galca and Guayre to try and bolster midfield. Things got better from there on, and when Pizzi finally entered the fray on the hour mark they created several good chances. However as time ran out Sevilla broke away, and with the home side defence expecting the visitors to kick the ball out to attend to the injured Fredi, Njegus ran on down the wing and crossed for Moisés to sink his old side. Unfortunately he then blotted his copybook getting himself sent off with a second yellow for time wasting, but by then the game was over and Sevilla had won for the fourth time away from home this season to take them up to tenth. Villarreal have ominously gone five games without a win, the last three defeats, and they are now only two points above the drop zone in fifteenth place. Pizzi will have to settle in quickly if they are to stop the rot.