Hércules: Calatayud; David
Cortés, Abraham Paz, Pamarot, Peña; Fritzler, Tiago Gomes (Sendoa
82'); Tote (Rufete 46'), Valdez, Drenthe; Trézéguet. 4-2-3-1.
Villarreal: Diego López; Ángel, Gonzalo,
Musacchio, Capdevila; Cazorla, Bruno, Marcos Senna (Cani 42', Jefferson Montero
82'), Borja Valero; Nilmar, Rossi (Català 91'). 4-4-2.
Goals:
1-0. 26. Valdes. Controlled Drenthe free kick and
steered shot past Diego López.
1-1. 28. Capdevila. Turned shot in
from close up after Angel laid ball across goal.
2-1. 40.
Trézéguet. Picked up cross from Drenthe and fired shot past
keeper.
2-2. 62. Borja Valero. Ran on to Cazorla through ball and shot wide
of Calatayud.
Yellow cards: Pamarot 09', Drenthe 24', Valero 41', 80', Trézéguet 43', 44', Valdes 44', Rossi 47', Cazorla 81', Fritzler 86', Capdevila 92' / red cards: Trézéguet 44', Valero 80', Musacchio 83'.
Villarreal missed out on a chance to top the table for the first time in their history after they were held to a 2-2 draw by regional neighbours Hércules on Monday night. Valdes got behind the defensive wall to collect a Drenthe free kick and put the locals ahead midway through the first half, but just two minutes later Capdevila latched on to Angel's cross to equalise from close to goal. Trézéguet restored the lead following another Drenthe cross five minutes before the break, but the French striker got himself sent off three minutes later for protesting.
After the restart Borja Valero picked up a Cazorla pass to level the scores once again, but he too got his marching orders for a second bookable offence with ten minutes to go, and he was followed down the tunnel a couple of minutes later by his team-mate Musacchio, who was shown a straight red card for elbowing an opponent. Not the result that Villarreal wanted, but the point keeps them second in the table behind Valencia.