Villarreal came from behind to beat Málaga 3-1, snapping their winless streak and leaving Málaga still searching for a first top-flight win since promotion.
Villarreal finally picked up their first win of the season, overturning an early deficit to beat Málaga 3-1 in a tense match that both teams badly needed to win. The visitors, under pressure after a poor run, fell behind early but responded with three straight goals, including a late penalty that settled the result.
Málaga took the lead when Dotor scored in the 12th minute, briefly raising hopes for a long-awaited victory since their return to LaLiga. Villarreal answered before halftime: Moleiro equalized in the 40th minute, shifting the momentum and exposing gaps in Málaga’s defense. (Official match records confirm Dotor’s opener in the 12th minute and Moleiro’s equalizer in the 40th.)
"Before this match, Villarreal had suffered four consecutive defeats, each by just one goal, making this comeback win especially significant."
— Flashscore
After the break, Villarreal took control. Pape Alassane Gueye scored just after halftime to put them ahead, and Málaga struggled to recover. Villarreal’s confidence grew as the minutes ticked by, while Málaga couldn’t find a way back. BBC Sport noted that Villarreal created more chances and managed the key moments, which proved decisive in securing their first win of the campaign.
With five minutes left, Villarreal put the game out of reach. Gueye converted a penalty in the 86th minute, ending any hope of a Málaga comeback and sealing the visitors’ first three points of the season. The final whistle left Málaga still without a win since promotion, despite some competitive performances in recent weeks.
Both teams came into the match desperate for a breakthrough. Villarreal had just two points from five matches and were coming off four straight defeats in all competitions, including the Champions League. The club’s new tactical approach had yet to pay off, and pressure was mounting on the coaching staff. Málaga, meanwhile, had shown promise but couldn’t turn performances into wins. Their only recent defeat before this match was at the Bernabéu, but the lack of victories is starting to weigh on the squad. Before kickoff, Málaga had three points from five rounds and sat near Villarreal at the lower end of the table.
"The match was part of LaLiga's sixth round and took place at La Rosaleda on 17 September 2026, finishing after 20:30 local time. Pre-match odds still favored Villarreal to win, despite their poor start to the season."
— BBC
The starting lineups reflected the urgency on both sides. Málaga started Alfonso Herrero in goal, with Rafita, Recio, Berrocal, and Salinas in defense. The midfield included Izan Merino, Pablo, and Dotor, while Juan Cruz, Larrubia, and Chupe led the attack. Villarreal lined up with Peter Gulácsi in goal, a back four of Freeman, Navarro, Renato Veiga, and Sergi Cardona, and a midfield of Comesaña, Saliba, Buchanan, and Moleiro. Gerard Moreno and Mikautadze started up front.
The match, played on 17 September 2026 at 20:20 CEST, delivered the kind of tension and unpredictability that has marked this LaLiga season. Villarreal’s win eases some of the immediate pressure on their management, while Málaga faces more questions about their inability to turn good play into results. The outcome shows how quickly things can change in LaLiga, where a single match can shift the direction of a season.
