Match Events
| Min | Team | Card | Event | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19' | Villarreal | Goal — Nicolas Pépé (assist: Ayoze Pérez) | 1-0 | |
| 43' | Deportivo | Goal — Luismi Cruz (assist: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang) | 1-1 | |
| 54' | Deportivo | Substitution — Riki Rodríguez on, Yeremay Hernández off | 1-1 | |
| 62' | Villarreal | Substitution — Ayoze Pérez on, Georges Mikautadze off | 1-1 | |
| 62' | Villarreal | Substitution — Pape Gueye on, Santi Comesaña off | 1-1 | |
| 62' | Villarreal | Substitution — Alberto Moleiro on, Tajon Buchanan off | 1-1 | |
| 66' | Deportivo | Substitution — Mario Soriano on, Marc Casadó off | 1-1 | |
| 66' | Deportivo | Substitution — Bil Nsongo on, Adama Traoré off | 1-1 | |
| 66' | Deportivo | Substitution — José María Giménez on, Miguel Loureiro off | 1-1 | |
| 76' | Villarreal | Goal — Adama Traoré | 2-1 | |
| 77' | Deportivo | Substitution — Luismi Cruz on, Zakaria Eddahchouri off | 2-1 | |
| 77' | Villarreal | Substitution — Gerard Moreno on, Tani Oluwaseyi off | 2-1 | |
| 79' | Deportivo | Goal — Zakaria Eddahchouri (assist: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang) | 2-2 | |
| 81' | Villarreal | Santi Comesaña | 2-2 | |
| 83' | Villarreal | Substitution — Logan Costa on, Ilias Akhomach Chakkour off | 2-2 | |
| 87' | Villarreal | Tajon Buchanan | 2-2 | |
| 88' | Deportivo | Goal — Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | 2-3 | |
| 90+1' | Deportivo | Lorenzo Amatucci | 2-3 | |
| 90+3' | Deportivo | Yeremay Hernández | 2-3 |
Deportivo came away from the Estadio de la Ceramica with a 2-3 win on Saturday, 5 September 2026, edging out Villarreal in a game that had plenty of twists. The home side matched them early on, and it was level at 1-1 by half-time after a lively opening period. Villarreal pushed back into it after the break, but Deportivo kept finding answers when it mattered, and that made the difference in the end. For Villarreal, this is a frustrating one to take at home, especially having been level going into the second half. They'll need to tighten things up defensively if results like this keep slipping away. Deportivo, on the other hand, will be delighted with the character they showed on the road, grinding out a result that could prove valuable come the end of the season.
The Matchup
Deportivo beat Villarreal 2-3 at Estadio de la Ceramica, and the numbers from the match back up how the game played out. Even without the extra share of possession, which finished 63% in favour of Villarreal, Deportivo made the most of the chances that mattered and did enough to see the game out. The shot count told a similar story, with 17 attempts from Villarreal against 8 from Deportivo over the course of the game. Villarreal had their moments and did not make it easy from start to finish, but ultimately came up short on the day. Small margins like this one tend to add up over a season, and results such as this are often what separates teams in the table further down the line. Here is a closer look at exactly how the two sides compared, statistically.
Man of the Match
Match Statistics
Villarreal vs Deportivo Lineups
Looking Ahead
Villarreal have a quick chance to build on this result. Their next test comes at home to Elche, and how they respond after this result will be worth watching. You can follow the build-up and everything you need to know when Villarreal vs Elche going to play at 17 October 2026 in Spanish La Liga 2026-27.
Deportivo, meanwhile, does not have long to wait before getting back out onto the pitch. They are next in action at home to Levante, a game that will give an early sense of how they carry this result forward. Full details are here: Deportivo vs Levante going to play at 16 October 2026 in Spanish La Liga 2026-27.
Match Commentary
Little changing here as we approach the 36th minute, Villarreal still shuffling possession around at 58 percent without any real bite. Deportivo look perfectly settled a goal behind, in no rush to change anything.
Half past thirty-five now and it's the same story, Villarreal shading possession at 57 percent without forcing the issue. Deportivo remain tucked in behind the ball, happy enough to keep the deficit at one.
Just past the half-hour mark now and the pattern holds, Villarreal ticking things over with 56 percent but no real urgency to their play. Deportivo remain compact and undisturbed, still just the single goal in it.
Still nothing frantic here, 32 minutes in and Villarreal holding 56 percent of the ball without really threatening. Deportivo are content to sit in, one down but far from stretched.
31 minutes gone and it's still Villarreal edging things at 55 percent, though there's little sense of danger in it. Deportivo look content to stay compact and let the game drift for now, trailing just the one goal.
Half an hour on the clock and Villarreal are still just easing through the gears, 54 percent possession and Deportivo happy to sit off and absorb it at 1-0. Nothing urgent from either side right now, just a slow build with the scoreline unchanged.
The ball just gets shuffled around midfield now, 51-49 in Villarreal's favour, but neither side seems in a hurry to force the issue. Deportivo will happily take this lull, still only a goal behind.
Still 1-0 to Villarreal as we edge toward the half-hour mark, and they're content to keep circulating the ball at 54 percent. Deportivo just can't quite wrestle their way into this contest yet.
Twenty-six minutes gone and it's still Villarreal doing the bulk of the work, 54 percent of the ball keeping Deportivo penned back without ever really threatening to add to the lead. A bit of a lull in this one right now.
Half an hour approaching and the pattern hasn't changed much, Villarreal still shading possession at 56 percent while Deportivo sit in and wait for their moment. Not a lot happening in the final third for either side right now.
Deportivo still searching for a way back into this, but Villarreal continue to dictate the tempo with their share of the ball ticking past 58 percent. Nothing doing at either end right now, just Villarreal happy to let the clock roll on.
Twenty-two on the clock and Villarreal keep things ticking over, still holding the bulk of possession as Deportivo look to steady themselves down a goal. Quiet, patient stuff from the home side for now.
Villarreal content to knock it around now, still commanding almost two-thirds of possession as Deportivo regroup after going behind. Nothing frantic from either side in these couple of minutes since the goal.
The deadlock is broken! Nicolas Pépé finds the net in the 19th minute and Villarreal lead 1-0, their dominance in possession finally paying off.
Still no breakthrough here, Villarreal patiently probing with the ball at their feet while Deportivo sit deep and organised. The scoreline stays goalless as the visitors continue to soak up the pressure without much fuss.
Nothing doing here in the 17th minute, Villarreal still holding the lion's share of the ball but Deportivo aren't panicking one bit.
Villarreal keep circulating possession without finding a way through, Deportivo's shape giving nothing away. A cagey opening quarter of an hour, all told.
Quarter of an hour gone and it's still all Villarreal in terms of the ball, three quarters of possession so far, but Deportivo haven't budged an inch.
Still nothing to separate these two, and Villarreal continue to dominate territory without unlocking anything clear-cut. Deportivo look content to soak it up and pick their moment.
Patient stuff from Villarreal, still probing without any real urgency. Deportivo remain deep and organised, happy to let the ball do the running while they wait for their moment.
Deportivo are happy to stay compact and let Villarreal pass it around without penetrating. Little sign of a breakthrough just yet at 0-0.
Villarreal are dominating the ball early on, holding it for long spells against a Deportivo side content to sit in and defend. Still goalless here at the Madrigal after ten minutes.