Real Sociedad 1 - Villarreal 3

Real Sociedad: Riesgo; Cifuentes, Labaka, Jauregi, Garrido (Gabilondo 85'); Garitano, Mikel Alonso (Barkero 68'); Xabi Prieto (Larrea 79'), Nihat, Novo; De Paula. 4-2-3-1.
Villarreal: Viera; Javi Venta, Gonzalo Rodríguez, Peña, Alcántara; Josico, Marcos Senna; Héctor Font, Guayre (Roger 73'), Riquelme (César Arzo 91'); Diego Forlán (José Marí 82'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Real: Garitano for Aranburu / Villarreal: Alcántara, Héctor Font, Guayre, Diego Forlán for Arruabarrena, José Marí, Sorín, Figueroa.

Goals:
1-0. 05. Nihat. Controlled long ball from Cifuentes and poked shot past Viera.
1-1. 36. Guayre. Turned ball in from close to goal after Riquelme crossed in.
1-2. 54. Guayre. Following up after Riesgo blocked shot from Diego Forlán.
1-3. 72. Riquelme. Picked up Forlán pass outside area and shot across keeper.

It has been quite a week for Antonio Guayre. The Villarreal striker scored the goal which took his club into the last sixteen of the Champions League, then followed that up with a double in San Sebastian.

Yet Real Sociedad had started so well. They took the lead in the fifth minute when a long raking pass from Cifu found Nihat. The little Turkish striker brought the ball down superbly on his chest and fired past Viera.

During the opening quarter Villarreal looked like they were suffering the proverbial Champions League hangover but the Yellow Submarine gradually got into gear. Guayre had a shout for a penalty and then Forlán was put through on goal after 26 minutes. Riesgo came out to block the effort with his legs.

At the other end Viera had to stop a long range effort from De Paula. But Villarreal got back on terms ten minutes before half time, thanks in the main to the sublime Riquelme. He slithered between two Sociedad defenders and tried to cheekily chip Riesgo. The goalkeeper blocked the effort but couldn't stop Riquelme getting to the goal line to cutback for Guayre to tap in.

The game's big turning point arrived ten minutes after the break. Xabi Prieto fired just over for the home side and Villarreal broke forward where Guayre was again in the right place to follow up Forlán's effort.

With twenty minutes to go Riquelme linked with Forlán before sweetly striking a long range effort into the top corner. It was a goal that capped a fine individual performance by the Argentine playmaker.

Nihat almost brought Sociedad back into the game five minutes later but his shot went the wrong side of the post. Then Viera denied De Paula from point blank range.

Villarreal substitute José Marí should have made it four in the last minute when put clean through. But it mattered little as his side's spirited comeback had condemned the Basques to only their second home defeat of the season.