Villarreal secured their first victory of the La Liga season by defeating Málaga 3-1 at La Rosaleda Stadium on September 17, 2026. (sofascore.com)
Málaga opened the scoring in the 12th minute when Carlos Dotor capitalized on a cross from Juan Cruz. (infobae.com) However, Villarreal responded effectively. Alberto Moleiro equalized in the 40th minute, and Pape Gueye, who replaced the injured Santi Comesaña, put Villarreal ahead just before halftime. Gueye sealed the win with a penalty in the 86th minute, completing his brace. (cadenaser.com)
Statistically, Villarreal dominated the match with 63% possession and an expected goals (xG) of 3.33, compared to Málaga's 0.63. (sofascore.com) This performance lifts Villarreal out of the relegation zone, while Málaga remains winless since their return to the top flight. (cadenaser.com)
The match also saw a significant injury when Villarreal's Santi Comesaña left the field on crutches after a challenge from José Salinas. The extent of his injury is pending further medical evaluation. (as.com)
This result provides a much-needed boost for Villarreal and their coach, Iñigo Pérez, who had been under pressure following a poor start to the season. (cadenaser.com)