Villarreal CF suffered its first defeat of the 2026-27 season on August 28, losing 1-0 to Deportivo Alavés in Vitoria. A first-half goal from Lucas Boyé in the 30th minute condemned the Yellow Submarine to a winless start after three La Liga matchdays.
Reported by El País Deportes, the loss leaves Villarreal in 12th place in the standings, with a record of two draws and one loss. The team has just two points and a -1 goal difference, having scored four and conceded five. This leaves them five points behind the surprising league leaders, Alavés itself.
What happened in the match against Alavés?
The match, corresponding to La Liga's third matchday, showed a Villarreal side struggling to create clear chances against a well-organized Alavés defense. Their biggest threat was a shot that hit the post, but home goalkeeper Antonio Sivera also made several key saves. Tajon Buchanan was the most incisive player for the visitors, while Pape Gueye took the initiative in the second half to try and mount a comeback. Substitutions made by manager Iñigo Pérez after the hour mark, including the introductions of Ayoze Pérez and Alberto Moleiro, failed to change the outcome.
What is Villarreal's current league standing?
After this setback, the outlook in the table is challenging. With two points, Villarreal occupies 12th place, far from the top spots. Their recent form reads loss, draw, draw (LDD). The team needs to find a winning path quickly to avoid falling behind in the early stages of the competition. Fans can follow the progression on our standings page.
Who played for Villarreal in Vitoria?
Iñigo Pérez's starting lineup featured Luiz Júnior in goal, with a defense of Juan Foyth, Carlos Romero, Renato Veiga, and Santiago Mouriño. Santi Comesaña and Pape Gueye started in midfield, flanked by Nicolas Pepe and Tajon Buchanan. The attack was led by captain Gerard Moreno and Georges Mikautadze. Beyond the earlier mentioned substitutes, Ilias Akhomach and Tani Oluwaseyi also came on late. Nicolas Pepe and Renato Veiga received yellow cards in the closing minutes, adding to a disappointing night.
What does this defeat mean for the team?
The winless start to the season presents an immediate challenge for Iñigo Pérez's project, who already faces the task of the club's financial restructuring mentioned in previous reports. A lack of cutting edge and defensive solidity are urgent issues to address. The next fixture is a key opportunity to react: a home match against Deportivo La Coruña on September 5th. The opponent, currently in 11th place, will be an important test at the Estadio de la Cerámica. All information on upcoming matches is available in our fixtures calendar.
