Recreativo Huelva 1 - Villarreal 2

Recreativo: Riesgo; Iago Bouzón, Morris, César Arzo, Casado; Javi Fuego (Nayar 69'), Jesús Vázquez; Sisi (Javi Guerrero 56'), Camuñas (Adrián Colunga 62'), Akalé; Marco Rubén. 4-2-3-1.
Villarreal: Diego López; Javi Venta, Fuentes, Cygan, Capdevila; Cazorla, Bruno, Eguren, Ibagaza (Mati Fernández 71'); Rossi (Nihat 89'), Altidore (Edmilson 78'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Recreativo: César Arzo, Marco Rubén for Beto, Javi Guerrero / Villarreal: Javi Venta, Fuentes, Bruno, Ibagaza, Altidore for Ángel, Gonzalo, Marcos Senna, Pires, Guille Franco.

Goals:
0-1. 26. Cazorla. Shot from outside of area which took deflection off defender.
0-2. 44. Ibagaza. Curled free kick over defensive wall in to near top corner of net.
1-2. 82. Adrián (penalty). After Cygan held back Marco Rubén inside area.

Yellow cards: César Arzo 43', Javi Venta 68', Bruno 72', Diego López 82'.

Villarreal moved up to second spot in the table, four points behind Barcelona, after beating bottom club Recreativo 1-2 on Sunday evening. Altidore was given a run out in attack, and the US forward tested Riesgo early on. And Cazorla opened the scoring against his old club midway through the first half, his shot taking a deflection off a defender to wrong-foot Riesgo.

Camuñas should have equalised soon afterwards after a mistake by Cygan let him through, but Diego López did well to block his shot. Rossi tried his luck at the other end though, and shortly before the interval Ibagaza made it two with a well struck free kick.

Alcaraz brought on attacking players after the restart, Guerrero, Colunga and then Nayar, who was making his debut now that his transfer problems have been resolved. Colunga had a goal ruled out for offside after Diego López saved from Akalé, and Recre got one back from the penalty spot, Colunga converting the kick after Cygan had fouled Marco Rubén. But it was too late to change the result, and with only one win on the first day of the season the Andalusians remain firmly anchored to the foot of the table.