“Carlos Dotor gives Málaga a shock lead with a right-footed finish from the center of the box after Villarreal failed to clear a set-piece situation.”
Pivotal“Alberto Moleiro levels for Villarreal, finishing from the center of the box after Ilias Akhomach's cross found him unmarked.”
Pivotal“Pape Gueye turns the match on its head, netting from close range in stoppage time to put Villarreal ahead just before the break.”
Pivotal“Carlos Romero finishes off a corner-kick scramble to make it 3-1, sealing the points for Villarreal with a composed finish from the left side of the box.”
“Pape Gueye completes his brace from the penalty spot after Alfonso Herrero fouled Carlos Maciá in the box, rounding off a comprehensive win.”
Málaga
Villarreal
Outstanding performance
Villarreal•MidfielderMálaga stunned the visitors with an early Carlos Dotor strike, but Villarreal's dominance in possession and territory eventually told as they racked up 81 dangerous attacks to Málaga's 23. Pape Gueye's introduction proved decisive, the substitute levelling and then winning it either side of half-time before adding a penalty in stoppage time to complete his double. Villarreal's control was overwhelming throughout - 63% possession, 16 shots to 5, and 7 big chances created against none for the hosts - and Carlos Romero's late strike from a corner put the result beyond doubt. For bottom-of-the-table Málaga, this is another damaging defeat that leaves them deep in relegation trouble, while Villarreal's away statement keeps them firmly in the title conversation.
How entertaining was this match?
Villarreal wins a corner after Ángel Recio concedes.
Goal! Pape Gueye scores for Villarreal with a left-footed shot from the penalty spot. The match score is now Malaga 1, Villarreal 3.
Alfonso Herrero Yellow CardAlfonso Herrero from Malaga receives a yellow card for a foul.
Alfonso Herrero from Malaga concedes a penalty for a foul in the penalty area.
Villarreal awarded a penalty after Carlos Maciá is fouled in the penalty area.
Adrián Niño from Malaga misses a header from very close range, sending the ball to the right after a corner.
VAR is checking a goal by Carlos Romero for Villarreal.
Adrián Niño is caught offside for Malaga.
Goal! Villarreal leads 3-1 against Malaga as Carlos Romero scores with a right-footed shot from the left side of the box.
Malaga wins a corner after Santiago Mouriño concedes.
Substitution for Villarreal: Carlos Maciá comes on for Nathan Saliba.
Substitution for Villarreal: Santiago Mouriño comes on for Alberto Moleiro.
Ramón Enríquez commits a foul for Malaga.
Ramón EnríquezYellow CardRamón Enríquez from Malaga receives a yellow card for a bad foul.
Tajon Buchanan from Villarreal wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Joaquín Muñoz from Malaga takes a right-footed shot from outside the box, but it goes high and wide to the right. Ángel Recio provided the assist after a corner.
Malaga wins a corner after Sergi Cardona concedes.
Attempt missed. Pablo Martínez from Malaga takes a right-footed shot from the right side of the box.
Substitution for Malaga: Ramón Enríquez comes on for Carlos Puga.
Malaga wins a corner after Pau Navarro concedes.
Attempt missed by Tajon Buchanan from Villarreal, who headed the ball from very close range.
Einar Galilea from Malaga commits a foul.
Alberto Moleiro from Villarreal wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Einar GalileaYellow CardEinar Galilea from Malaga receives a yellow card for a bad foul.
Georges Mikautadze from Villarreal hits the woodwork with a left-footed shot from the center of the box.
David Larrubia of Malaga commits a foul.
Sergi Cardona from Villarreal wins a free kick on the left wing.
David LarrubiaYellow CardDavid Larrubia from Malaga receives a yellow card.
Carlos Puga from Malaga commits a foul.
Carlos Romero from Villarreal is awarded a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt missed. Chupe from Malaga takes a left-footed shot from the right side of the box that goes close but misses to the right. Carlos Puga provided the assist.
Substitution for Villarreal: Georges Mikautadze comes on for Ayoze Pérez.
Substitution for Villarreal: Carlos Romero comes on for Ilias Akhomach.
Nathan Saliba from Villarreal commits a foul.
Rafita from Malaga wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution for Malaga: Adrián Niño comes on for Carlos Dotor.
Substitution for Malaga: Joaquín Muñoz comes on for Izan Merino.
Einar Galilea from Malaga commits a foul.
Ayoze Pérez from Villarreal wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Carlos Puga from Malaga wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Tajon Buchanan of Villarreal.
Villarreal wins a corner after Carlos Puga concedes.
Ayoze Pérez's header from close range for Villarreal is blocked. The attempt was assisted by Alberto Moleiro.
Pablo Martínez from Malaga is awarded a free kick on the left wing.
Pau Navarro from Villarreal commits a foul.
Villarreal is called offside as Alex Freeman is caught in an offside position.
Corner awarded to Malaga after Sergi Cardona concedes.
Foul committed by Ilias Akhomach of Villarreal.
Einar Galilea from Malaga is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution for Malaga: Rafita comes on for José Salinas.
The second half begins with the score at Malaga 1, Villarreal 2.
Substitution for Malaga: Dani Lorenzo comes on for Juan Cruz.
The first half ends with Malaga trailing Villarreal 2-1.
Attempt saved. Alberto Moleiro from Villarreal has a right-footed shot from a challenging angle and long range on the left, but it is saved.
Carlos Puga from Malaga commits a foul.
Tajon Buchanan from Villarreal wins a free kick on the left wing.
assist: Ayoze Pérez
Goal! Villarreal leads 2-1 after Pape Gueye scores with a left-footed shot from the center of the box.
The fourth official has indicated there will be 4 minutes of added time.
Foul committed by Alex Freeman of Villarreal.
Juan Cruz from Malaga wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Carlos Dotor from Malaga wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul committed by Ilias Akhomach of Villarreal.
Ilias AkhomachYellow CardIlias Akhomach from Villarreal receives a yellow card for a foul.
assist: Ilias Akhomach
Goal! The score is now 1-1 as Alberto Moleiro scores for Villarreal with a right-footed shot from the center of the box.
Alberto Moleiro from Villarreal misses a right-footed shot from the center of the box, sending it to the left. The attempt was assisted by Ilias Akhomach's cross.
Attempt missed. Renato Veiga from Villarreal takes a left-footed shot from over 35 yards, but it goes just a bit too high. He was assisted by Santi Comesaña.
Substitution for Villarreal: Pape Gueye comes on for Santi Comesaña due to an injury.
Foul committed by Izan Merino of Malaga.
Alberto Moleiro from Villarreal wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Renato Veiga is caught offside for Villarreal.
José SalinasYellow CardJosé Salinas from Malaga receives a yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul committed by José Salinas of Malaga.
Santi Comesaña from Villarreal wins a free kick in the attacking half.
José Salinas from Malaga commits a foul.
Santi Comesaña from Villarreal wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Delay is over, and they are ready to continue.
Delay in the match at Villarreal.
Ayoze Pérez from Villarreal misses a left-footed shot from the left side of the six-yard box, sending the ball to the right after a corner.
Attempt saved. Tajon Buchanan from Villarreal has his right-footed shot from outside the box saved in the bottom left corner.
Attempt saved. Ilias Akhomach from Villarreal has a left-footed shot from the right side of the box, but it's saved in the top right corner. The assist came from Alex Freeman.
Villarreal wins a corner after Alfonso Herrero concedes.
Nathan Saliba from Villarreal wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Villarreal wins a corner after Carlos Puga concedes.
Sergi Cardona's left-footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Ayoze Pérez provided the assist.
Carlos Dotor from Malaga commits a foul.
Foul committed by José Salinas of Malaga.
Ilias Akhomach from Villarreal wins a free kick on the right wing.
Ayoze Pérez's header from the center of the box for Villarreal is blocked.
Villarreal wins a corner after Izan Merino concedes.
Chupe from Malaga wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Pau Navarro of Villarreal.
Delay is over, and they are ready to continue.
The match is delayed due to an injury to Izan Merino from Malaga.
Foul committed by José Salinas of Malaga.
Alex Freeman from Villarreal wins a free kick on the right wing.
assist: Juan Cruz
Goal! Malaga leads Villarreal 1-0. Carlos Dotor scores for Malaga with a right-footed shot from the center of the box.
Carlos Puga from Malaga commits a foul.
Tajon Buchanan from Villarreal wins a free kick in the defensive half.
David Larrubia from Malaga wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Santi Comesaña of Villarreal.
Sergi Cardona from Villarreal commits a foul.
Carlos Puga from Malaga is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Carlos Dotor from Malaga commits a foul.
Santi Comesaña from Villarreal wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Villarreal wins a corner after a concession by Chupe.
Sergi Cardona's left-footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. The attempt was assisted by Tajon Buchanan.
Villarreal is awarded a corner after Ángel Recio concedes.
First half begins.
Málaga and Villarreal meet at La Rosaleda in a genuine relegation-zone six-pointer, with both clubs winless and desperate for their first three points of the season. Villarreal arrive as slight favorites despite their own dismal run, making this a fascinating clash between two teams under early-season pressure.
