Real Mallorca went away for one of La Liga's rare midweek games to Villarreal, with whom there are lingering antagonisms owing to last season's European qualification and to whom - horror for Mallorca fans - ex-Mallorca golden boy De Guzmán was sold before the end of the transfer window. Despite Villarreal's stuttering start to this season's La Liga, there was no surprise at all that Villarreal took the lead after seven minutes against the even more stuttering Mallorca. And after this, Villarreal held the ascendancy, a grip they weren't to relinquish against an uninspired Mallorca lacking midfield bite or upfront creativity, much as Mallorca came into the game more in the second half as Villarreal relaxed thanks to Nilmar's early strike to put the hosts two-nil ahead. Easy for Villarreal, distinctly uneasy for Mallorca with the lame-duck coach, Michael Laudrup, at loggerheads with the sporting director Serra Ferrer, and surely shortly to be on his way out of the club.
Villarreal:
López; Mario, Zapata, Musacchio, Catalá; Borja Valero (Camuñas 71), Bruno, Cani (Senna 62), De Guzmán; Nilmar (Rubén 82), Rossi
Goals: Rossi (7); Nilmar (52)
Mallorca:
Aouate; Cendrós, Chico, Ramis, Cáceres; Pina, Tissone (Alfaro 64); Nsue, Tejera, Aki (Castro 72); Victor
Yellows: Pina (42); Tissone (44); Chico (89)
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