Real Sociedad 0 - Villarreal 1

Real Sociedad: Bravo; López Rekarte, Labaka, Ansotegui, Garrido (Diaz de Cerio 85'); Garitano, Diego Rivas, Aranburu (Gerardo 73'), Fabio Felicio (Rossato 60'); Uranga, Kovacevic. 4-4-2.
Villarreal: Viera; Javi Venta, Cygan, Fuentes, Arruabarrena; Marcos Senna, Somoza, Riquelme, Marcos García (Cani 75'); Nihat (José Marí 67'), Diego Forlán (Josico 88'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Real: López Rekarte, Diego Rivas, Uranga for Gerardo, Xabi Prieto, Novo / Villarreal: Javi Venta, Arruabarrena, Marcos García, Nihat for Josemi, José Enrique, Cani, José Marí.

Goals:
0-1. 81. Arruabarrena. Header which bounced down off bar from Riquelme corner.

Villarreal moved up to ninth after a 0-1 win at Real Sociedad, spoiling the debut of Real's new coach Miguel Angel Lotina, who replaced Bakero midweek. The home fans still gave their side an ovation for their effort, although the defeat leaves them firmly anchored to the bottom of the table after the joint worst start in their history.

A big crowd turned up to see whether the new coach could yurn things around, and Kovacevic and Felicio both tested Viera early on. But they gradually ran out of steam, and Bravo had to be on his toes to keep out Nihat and Diego Forlán before the break.

Garitano went close for the locals after the restart, but Forlán brought another good save out of Bravo a few minutes later. And with ten minutes to go the visitors got what was to prove the only goal of the night when Arruabarrena headed Riquelme's corner against the bar, referee Clos Gómez deciding that the ball had crossed the line before it bounced away.