Spain

Villarreal 2-1 Malaga: The Yellow Submarines Secure First League Win

The El Madrigal faithful were treated to their sides' hard-fought win moving them off the foot of the table...

Oct 25, 2009 6:00:15 PM

Villarreal celebrate their first league win of the campiagn (MARCA)

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Villarreal celebrate their first league win of the campiagn (MARCA)

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Villarreal 2-1 Malaga
Primera Division Results/Standings

A second half free kick from Joan Capdevila proved to be difference as Villarreal notched their first win of the season against Malaga at El Madrigal this afternoon.

Nilmar had opened the scoring but Malaga equalised on the interval through Albert Luque, before Capdevila's effort gave coach Ernesto Valverde a vital three points.

The home side started the match the brighter of the two, but still showed a fragility from their recent poor run. New strike pairing of Joseba Llorente and Nilmar set about causing problems for the visitors from the off.

Indeed, it was record signing Nilmar that opened the scoring after 27 minutes. Damian Escudero burst down the left hand side, and drilled a low cross into the path of the Brazilian, who simply couldn't miss from close range, and in turn netted his first La Liga goal since his €11m transfer in the summer.

Villarreal continued to be the most likely side to add to the scoreline. Nilmar was inches away from adding a second following Cani's teasing delivery, while Llorente headed wide from inside the six yard box when perhaps he should have hit the target.

However, The Yellow Submarines have been far from stable in defence this season, and once more their frailties were highlighted, right on half-time.

A deep cross into the area found Albert Luque jumping against full-back Javi Venta, and the defender was simply outmuscled by the former Deportivo forward, who headed beautifully into the corner of Diego Lopez's net.

Coach Ernesto Valverde looked on from the bench, perplexed at his side's inability to consolodate a lead, and knew that the pressure was beginning to mount on him and his players.

But he was handed a repreive ten minutes into the second half, as Joan Capdevila curled in what proved to be the winning goal.

Malaga goalkeeper Gustavo Munua lined up his wall poorly, allowing the Spanish international to bend his perfectly placed free-kick into the corner of the net and restore Villarreal's lead.

Joseba Llorente once more went close, but could only drag his shot wide of the post as Munua advanced, as the home side looked to kill off the match.

But they were made to sweat by the Andalusians, who themselves had half-chances through Baha and Victor Obinna.

In the end Malaga were well beaten,Villarreal still appear to be far from convincing, but they secured the win to move off the bottom and ease the strain on coach Valverde - for this week at least.

Paul Macdonald, Goal.com