Villarreal beat Málaga 3-1 at La Rosaleda.

The LaLiga encounter between Málaga and Villarreal unfolded on 17 September 2026 under the floodlights of La Rosaleda in Malaga. Both sides entered the match looking to claim three points, and the stadium provided a fitting backdrop for a game that would swing dramatically after an early lead for the hosts.

How it unfolded

Málaga opened the scoring in the 12th minute when Carlos Dotor capitalised on a fast-break opportunity. Receiving a pass from Juan Antonio Cruz, Dotor struck a right-footed shot from the centre of the box that curled into the bottom left corner, putting the home side ahead 1-0.

The first half remained tightly contested until the 34th minute, when José Salinas was shown a yellow card for a bad foul, the earliest booking of the match.

Villarreal responded swiftly, equalising in the 40th minute. Alberto Moleiro received an assist from Ilias Akhomach and fired a right-footed shot from the centre of the box straight into the centre of the net, restoring parity at 1-1.

Just two minutes later, Ilias Akhomach picked up a yellow card for a bad foul, his only disciplinary action of the evening.

The momentum shifted again in stoppage time of the first half. In the 45+2 minute, Pape Gueye gave Villarreal the lead. A left-footed strike from the centre of the box, set up by Ayoze Pérez, beat the Málaga goalkeeper to make it 1-2.

The second half saw a flurry of cautions for the hosts. David Larrubia was booked in the 68th minute, followed by Einar Galilea in the 70th minute for a bad foul. Ramón Enríquez received a yellow card in the 79th minute, also for a bad foul, and Alfonso Herrero was shown his booking in the 85th minute for a similar infringement.

Villarreal sealed the result in the 86th minute when Pape Gueye converted a penalty. He placed a left-footed shot into the bottom right corner, extending the lead to 1-3 and effectively putting the match beyond Málaga’s reach.

Standout performers

Carlos Dotor was the catalyst for Málaga’s early advantage, delivering a well-timed finish after Juan Antonio Cruz’s incisive pass. On the Villarreal side, Alberto Moleiro’s equaliser demonstrated composure inside the box, while Ilias Akhomach’s contribution with an assist was pivotal before his booking. Pape Gueye emerged as the decisive figure, scoring twice – once from open play and once from the spot – and earning an assist from Ayoze Pérez for the first Villarreal goal.

Match facts

  • Final score: Málaga 1-3 Villarreal
  • Scorers:
    • Málaga: Carlos Dotor (12') – assist Juan Antonio Cruz
    • Villarreal: Alberto Moleiro (40') – assist Ilias Akhomach
    • Villarreal: Pape Gueye (45'+2') – assist Ayoze Pérez
    • Villarreal: Pape Gueye (86') – penalty
  • Bookings:
    • Málaga: José Salinas (34'), David Larrubia (68'), Einar Galilea (70'), Ramón Enríquez (79'), Alfonso Herrero (85')
    • Villarreal: Ilias Akhomach (42')
  • Venue: La Rosaleda, Malaga

What it means

The result delivers a comprehensive three-goal victory for Villarreal, reinforcing their attacking potency, while Málaga return home with a defeat that leaves them seeking improvement in upcoming fixtures.