Villarreal come from behind to beat Málaga 3-1

Villarreal picked up their first league win of the season on Thursday night, coming from behind to beat Málaga 3-1 at La Rosaleda and leave the newly-promoted side still searching for a first victory back in the top flight.

Carlos Dotor put the hosts ahead in the 12th minute, finishing off a move down the right started by Juan Cruz. Málaga, who had gone into the game with some confidence after taking a point at Balaídos last weekend, held that lead until the 40th minute, when

Moleiro finished a cross to level the scores. Villarreal took control two minutes into the second half through Pape Gueye, who had come on to replace the injured Comesaña while the score was still 1-0. Gueye finished a move involving Ayoze to make it 1-2, then added a penalty in the 86th minute to complete his double and put the result beyond doubt.

Ilias Akhomach was the visitors' most persistent threat throughout. He was on the losing side here in what remains a difficult return to Primera for Málaga after eight years away. Right winger David Larrubia, who has scored five goals for the club since arriving in August 2025, was booked in the 68th minute as Málaga pushed for an equaliser that never came.

Six cautions were shown in total, with Herrero himself booked five minutes from time. The result was watched by 30,000 spectators at La Rosaleda and refereed by Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias.

The win eases the pressure on Íñigo Pérez's side after a slow start, while Málaga's winless run means they sit in the relegation places without a point from their opening fixtures. If Villarreal build on this result, it may steady a side that looked short of conviction in front of goal; for Málaga, the longer Málaga wait for a first win, the deeper the relegation trap becomes.