Villarreal claimed their first win of the season by overturning an early deficit to beat Málaga 3-1 in a tense match both teams badly needed to win. Under pressure after a poor run, the visitors fell behind early but replied with three straight goals, including a late penalty that settled the result.
Dotor put Málaga ahead in the 12th minute, briefly raising hopes of a long-awaited win since their return to LaLiga. Villarreal replied before halftime: Moleiro equalized in the 40th minute, shifting the momentum and exposing gaps in Málaga’s defense.
"Before this match, Villarreal had suffered four consecutive defeats, each by just one goal, making this comeback win especially impressive."
Flashscore
Villarreal took control after the break. Pape Alassane Gueye scored just after halftime to put them ahead, and Málaga struggled to respond. Villarreal grew in confidence as the minutes passed, while Málaga couldn’t find a way back. BBC Sport noted that Villarreal created more chances and handled the basic 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 competitive performances in recent weeks.
Both teams entered 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, putting the coaching staff under mounting pressure. Málaga, meanwhile, had shown promise but couldn’t turn performances into wins. Their only recent defeat before this match came 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. Izan Merino, Pablo, and Dotor made up the midfield, 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.
Played on 17 September 2026 at 20:20 CEST, the match brought the tension and unpredictability that have marked this LaLiga season. Villarreal’s win eases some immediate pressure on their management, while Málaga faces more questions over its inability to turn good play into results.
