Villarreal 2 - Albacete 1

Villarreal: Reina; Pedro Martí, Quique Alvarez, Ballesteros, Javi Venta; Coloccini, Battaglia; José Marí (Guayre 75'), Riquelme, Roger (Víctor 68'); Sonny Anderson (Verza 80'). 4-2-3-1.
Albacete: Almunia; Oscar Montiel, Pablo, Buades (Siviero 56'), Peña; Alvaro Rubio, David Sánchez (Parri 69'); Redondo, Pacheco, Munteanu; Fabiano (Mikel 73'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Villarreal: Quique Alvarez, José Marí for Josico, Víctor / Albacete: Alvaro Rubio for Viaud.

Goals:
0-1. 05. Pacheco. Won ball on left of area and fired shot past Reina.
1-1. 50. Coloccini. Header on far post after Ballesteros nodded on Roger free kick
2-1. 58. Sonny Anderson. Following up after header blocked by defender.

Villarreal move back up to eighth after coming from behind to beat Albacete 2-1. Pacheco gave the visitors the lead early on with a spectacular shot past Reina, and could have made it two a few minutes later if he had not shot weakly at the keeper. The locals appeared to be suffering a hangover from their epic UEFA cup victory over Roma on Thursday, and hardly tested an Almunia who had not let in a goal during his last four games. But he was finally beaten five minutes after the restart when Ballesteros headed Roger's free kick over the defence, and Coloccini ran in from behind to steer a header into the net.

Even so Albacete could have gone back in front a few minutes later when Ballesteros brought down Fabiano in the area, but Reina guessed correctly and dived to save the Brazilian forward's penalty. It was a big blow for the visitors, and three minutes later Sonny Anderson struck while they were still groggy, scoring at the second attempt after Almunia pushed away his first header. Reina saved well from Pacheco and Parri shot over the bar as Ferrando urged his side on, but Villarreal held on to end their opponents' run of three victories in a row.