Valladolid 1 - Villarreal 0

Valladolid: Bizzarri; Torres Gómez (Caminero 92'), Gaspar, Mario, Jonathan; Ricchetti, Colsa; Fernando Sales, Sousa (Chema 65'), Oscar González; Aganzo (Pachón 79'). 4-2-3-1.
Villarreal: López Vallejo; Galván, Ballesteros, Quique Alvarez, Arruabarrena; Marcos Senna, Gracia (Guayre 80'); Jorge López (Aranda 85'), Galca, Calleja (Rubén Reyes 90'); Palermo. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Valladolid: Mario, Jonathan, Ricchetti, Oscar González for Caminero, Marcos, Peña, Chema / Villarreal: López Vallejo, Galván, Gracia, Jorge López, Galca for Reina, Belletti, Josico, Guayre, Víctor.

Goals:
1-0. 29. Colsa. Near post header in off bar from David Sousa corner.

Valladolid were tipped by many punters for relegation this year after losing some of their key players, but they have got off to the best possible start with their second 1-0 win in a row. It was not a pretty victory though, with Pepe Moré's side content to sit back and let their opponents do the work, looking to find lone striker Aganzo on the breakaway. Caretaker manager Paquito, who replaced the sacked Víctor Muñoz midweek, made several changes to the Villarreal side, but his idea of playing Galca further forward behind Palermo did not come off.

Valladolid eventually took the lead on the half hour mark when on-loan Atlético midfielder Colsa found a gap in the defence to head Sousa's corner in off the crossbar. After that they pulled even further back, leaving the visitors to take the initiative in the second half. Paquito eventually (but probably too late) brought on Guayre and Aranda, and Bizzarri had to be on his best form to stop efforts from Palermo and Jorge López. But Valladolid were not going to let such a good start slip, and held on to build up that cushion of points they may need at the end of the season.

Villarreal's season is falling apart already having lost the final of the Intertoto cup and been knocked out of the Spanish cup by Hércules. They have a lot of talent in the side though, and a new manager is expected to be appointed this week, most probably ex Albacete and Real Madrid manager Benito Floro, who has spent the last five years in exile in Japan and Mexico. He was nicknamed Benito el Breve (Benito the Brief) after his short unsuccessful spell at Madrid. Hopefully he will last longer here.