Goal-shy Villarreal frustrate fans and Valverde

Villarreal and their new coach Ernesto Valverde continue to long for their first win of the new season after a frustrating 0-0 draw with 10-man Espanyol on Sunday.

Espanyol played with 10 men for three quarters of the match but goal-shy Villarreal could not score and were subjected to jeers by the fans at El Madrigal.

Runners-up in the league just two seasons ago, Villarreal have just three points from a possible 18 and sit second from bottom of the table with their pre-season Champions League target looking a long way away.

Two points from 15 had represented Villarreal’s worst ever start to a season in the top flight so Valverde was desperate for his maiden win against the club he guided to the 2007 UEFA Cup final.

Espanyol hit the post in the 13th minute to give Villarreal a fright but a minute later defender Juan Forlin was sent off for hacking down Giuseppe Rossi in a dangerous position.

With home advantage and playing with a man extra for 76 minutes it was a perfect opportunity for Villarreal to get their first league victory.

Cameroon goalkeeper Idriss Kameni was a busy figure for Espanyol denying Rossi with a terrfic point blank save close to the half hour mark.

Villarreal’s inability to make the breakthrough drew whistles from the frustrated home fans.

Just four goals in six games underlines why Villarreal are so low in the table with club record signing Nilmar yet to get off the mark.

After a 62-year wait promoted Xerez registered their first ever goal in the Spanish top-flight in a 1-1 draw with Malaga on Sunday.

Xerez had failed to score in the first five games but the goal finally came and Argentine Emilio Armenteros had the honour of netting the historic goal a minute after the break.

Xerez looked to be heading for their first ever victory in the top division but conceded an 84th minute equaliser and stay bottom of the table on two points.

Real Mallorca missed the chance to go third in the table falling to a 4-1 defeat at Sporting Gijon on Sunday.

Jose Marti put Mallorca ahead from the penalty spot on 12 minutes but Gijon scored three times in 10 minutes to turn the game on its head as the Islanders collapsed.

Valencia, who are currently four points off the Champions League spots after picking up two points from the last nine, travel to Racing Santander later on Sunday.

And Real Madrid have a testing trip to Sevilla as they bid to continue their perfect start to the season and respond to Barcelona’s 1-0 win over Almeria on Saturday.

It was Barca’s sixth successive league win, matching a club record set in 1991 and 1998, and they currently lead the way at the summit of La Liga.

Real will be without Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo due to a sprained ankle so captain Raul is expected to take his place in attack.

Sevilla are three points behind Real after winning their last four league matches but their coach Manolo Jimenez played down the significance of the Real fixture.

“The result will not be decisive. Winning or losing this match is not going to decide who wins the league title,” said Jimenez.