Villarreal got back on track with a home win - but it was far from easy for them. Indeed, Depor were ahead on two occasions, only to be swept back by the Yellow Submarine's attacking style.The hosts had Nihat and Rossi up front once more, and were to be rewarded by three goals between them. Depor, meanwhile, were misfiring up front yet again, meaning that a defender and midfielder were to find the scoresheet instead of a forward. It was a youthful back line that contested this one, and they started well, but were in the end to ship four.
The hosts started strongly enough, but Depor had clearly come with the plan of hitting on the break, and some good movement from Riki began to spook the ailing home defence.
That's not to say that Villarreal didn't have the odd chance to get forward, mostly borne of Pires, but he was constantly met with a Galician wall of defence. As such, Depor's counterattacking policy paid off when they took an early lead.
It came from the spot after Coloccini's cross to Pablo Amo found the latter fouled at the back post by Josemi. Up stepped Sergio, and it was 0-1.
Still, Villarreal knew that this type of game warranted nothing less than all three points, and Nihat wasted no time in securing the equaliser.
Granted, Rossi had the ball in the net, but his penalty came after Adrian fouled the Turk in the box.
Deportivo's defensive wall stood firm for the rest of the half, and indeed outdid itself early in the second by allowing Pablo Amo to get forward and score the leader.
The defender tapped home from close range after Adrian's corner found Riki, who half-volleyed the ball through the crowded box towards the defender.
Villarreal's defending was once again suspect, but yet again they were to be bailed out by some attacking ambition. Nihat made it 2-2 in the 65th minute after Senna's parried shot ran loose to be bundled home, Depor's solid back line finally being toppled from open play.
That seemed to dampen the visitors' spirits, for four minutes later, Nihat scored the best strike of the game, Cazorla teeing him up for a spectacular finish after a corner.
On came Bodipo to try to rescue the game for the A Coruna men, but the die was cast when Pablo Amo was sent off after fouling substitute Tomasson in the box. The Dane himself converted the penalty, and it was all over.
Well, not quite. The excellent Andres Guardado popped up one minute into stoppage time to once again punish the home defence with a tremendous effort from the edge of the box, but it was too late to seal a point.
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