Villarreal 1 - 1 Mallorca

Villarreal held at home to Mallorca

Updated: September 13, 2009, 8:13 PM UK

Villarreal were held to their second successive 1-1 draw at the start of the new Primera Division season after failing to see off Real Mallorca at a rain-drenched El Madrigal.

Villarreal finished outside the Champions League places last term and they would have been hoping for a good start to this campaign, especially after a goal-laden pre-season under new coach Ernesto Valverde.

But the Yellow Submarine have now been forced to settle for two draws, with Sunday's result following on from their 1-1 tie at Osasuna on the opening weekend.

Like that match against Osasuna, Villarreal took the lead but could not hold on, with Borja Valero equalising 15 minutes from time for the Balearic Island outfit after Giuseppe Rossi had given the hosts a 54th-minute lead.

Mallorca now have four points from two games after beating Xerez 2-0 in their first match.

Villarreal, who are in Europa League action against Levski Sofia on Thursday, were without Spain international Marcos Senna and club-record signing Nilmar but the home side still had much the better of the first-half chances.

Mallorca threatened briefly early on following a brilliant run by Tuni that saw the winger race over half the length of the pitch before producing a rather disappointing finish that barely tested Diego Lopez, but otherwise it was largely all Villarreal.

Rossi almost broke the deadlock in the eighth minute when his 30-yard free-kick struck the post, before Joseba Llorente was denied by Dudu Aouate, Joan Capdevila fired narrowly over from long range and former Mallorca midfielder Ariel Ibagaza saw a delicate free-kick shave the woodwork.

Aside from that early run from Tuni, Mallorca's best other effort in the opening period was a 30-yard piledriver from Aritz Aduriz which whistled just over the bar, but the visitors were largely on the back foot before the break.

With the rain leaving puddles all over the pitch, the conditions become tough in the second half and there were less decent chances than in the opening 45 minutes.

However, both goals were scored after the break, with Villarreal taking the lead eight minutes in through Rossi.

Mallorca goalkeeper Aouate was quick to race out and dive at Llorente's feet just as the Villarreal man looked to be breaking through, but the ball ran loose and Rossi was quickly on it to slam a low shot through the legs of visiting captain Jose Carlos Nunes and into the net.

That goal was no more than Villarreal deserved following their efforts in the first half, but it was not enough to win them all three points as Mallorca drew level through Valero's free-kick in the 75th minute.

The midfielder, who has returned to Mallorca on loan for the season from English club West Brom, tried his luck from 25 yards out and was rewarded as his low shot went through a group of players before squeezing past Lopez diving to his left.