Two late goals from Cedric Bakambu have given Villarreal a come-from-behind 3-1 win over Espanyol in their second match of the new La Liga season.
It took the visitors less than five minutes to open the scoring as Gerard Moreno picked out Felipe Caicedo with an early through-ball, setting up the striker to coolly slot the ball into the bottom corner, beating the stretching Alphonse Areola.
Villarreal had a chance to level inside the opening 10 minutes when they were awarded a free kick, allowing Jaume Costa to launch it into the box, but Leo Baptistao headed over from close range.
There was a free kick in a promising position down the other end soon after as Espanyol pushed to double their advantage, but Antonio Raillo was unable to make the most of the opportunity, putting it over the bar.
Areola came under pressure in the Villarreal goal as the visitors continued to look for a second shortly after the restart, but the keeper turned Moreno's effort behind, before dealing with Victor Alvarez's corner moments later.
Somewhat against the run of play, the hosts were back on level terms with 25 minutes remaining as Roberto Soldado made it two goals in two appearances for his new club, volleying the ball into the bottom left following a quick break.
The home side came close to snatching all three points late on when Manuel Trigueros was denied by a late challenge, which left the loose ball to fall to Samu, but the striker blasted his finish wide from just a few yards out.
Villarreal quickly won the ball back though, creating another chance a few minutes later when a long ball forward fell to Bakambu, who rounded Pau Lopez as he rushed out from the Espanyol goal, before slicing it in from a tight angle.
The substitute had time to add another before the full-time whistle, smashing the ball in from a Samu cross deep into stoppage time, emphatically sealing the win for the hosts.
The result gives Villarreal four points from their opening two fixtures of the season, moving them to the top of the table for the time being, while Espanyol sit sixth.
Sian Cowper
