First Division - Day 27

Atlético Madrid 3 - Villarreal 2

Atlético: Leo Franco; Heitinga (Sinama-Pongolle 72'), Perea, Pablo, Antonio López; Maxi (Camacho 90'), Paulo Assunçao (Banega 65'), Raúl García, Simao; Agüero, Diego Forlán. 4-4-2.
Villarreal: Diego López; Javi Venta, Eguren, Fuentes, Capdevila; Marcos Senna; Cazorla, Cani, Mati Fernández (Bruno 47'), Pires (Guille Franco 63'); Rossi (Mario 65'). 4-1-4-1.

Team changes: Atlético: Perea, Raúl García for Ujfalusi, Camacho / Villarreal: Javi Venta, Eguren, Mati Fernández, Pires, Rossi for Ángel, Godín, Ibagaza, Nihat, Llorente.

Goals:
0-1. 15. Mati Fernández. Got on end of Javi Venta cross to turn shot in to net.
0-2. 52. Cani. Picked up Rossi return pass and lifted shot past Leo Franco.
1-2. 53. Agüero. Following up after Diego Forlán shot came back off post.
2-2. 80. Forlán. Steered shot past Diego after Maxi played back Raúl García cross.
3-2. 82. Antonio López. Got above defence to head Simao corner wide of keeper.

Yellow cards: Assunçao 45', Senna 46', Perea 53', Javi Venta 59', 64', Diego López 61', Raúl García 76', Simao 84', Camacho 91' / red cards: Javi Venta 64'.

Atlético Madrid moved back up to fifth in the table after overturning an adverse scoreline to win 3-2 against fourth placed Villarreal. Abel's side could have taken an early lead when Eguren gave away a penalty on Agüero, but Diego López saved Forlán's spot kick. And a few minutes later Mati Fernández turned in Javi Venta's cross to put the visitors ahead.

Cani made it two after picking up Rossi's return pass seven minutes after the restart, but just a minute later Agüero got one back after Forlán's shot came back off the post, the keeper only able to deflect the rebound in to the path of the striker. And soon afterwards Villarreal were left with ten men after Javi Venta was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Pellegrini's side held on though until ten minutes from the end, when Forlán levelled the scores from Maxi's pass. And two minutes later Antonio López got on the end of Simao's corner to head the winner and give fans something to cheer them up after the midweek elimination from the Champions League.