Eibar keep up the good work

Eibar's excellent start to life in the Primera Division continues as they achieved a hard fought 1-1 draw at home to Villarreal.

The hosts' captain Mikel Arruabarrena struck his first goal of the season to give Gaizka Garitano's side the lead after just nine minutes, but Villarreal produced a strong second half display and drew level thanks to a wonderful goal from Gerard Moreno.

Last season's Segunda Division champions now have seven points from their first five games in the top flight, just one fewer than Villarreal.

Both coaches made a number of changes to their sides from the weekend, with Garitano handing a first start to defender Borja Ekiza and a debut to midfielder Derik Boateng, while Marcelino rested his usual midfielders Bruno Soriano and Manu Trigueros in favour of Tomas Pina and Jonathan Dos Santos.

The Yellow Submarine were a little lightweight in the middle as a result and struggled against a fired-up Eibar side, who would have been confident following their 2-0 win at Elche.

The hosts played with more energy and aggression than their opponents and deservedly took the lead through Arruabarrena, who slid in from six yards to convert a cross from Raul Albentosa after Villarreal failed to clear the danger from a free-kick.

Lively left winger Saul Berjon nearly caught Villarreal goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo by surprise shortly after the goal, trying his luck from 30 yards, but the custodian adjusted his feet to tip the shot over the bar.

Despite having far more of the ball, Villarreal were unable to trouble the home defence, with Borja Ekiza and Albentosa expertly keeping Ikechukwu Uche and Gerard Moreno at bay.

Marcelino made two changes at the start of the second half, bringing on Bruno for Tomas Pina, who had been booked, and Luciano Vietto for Uche. The visitors had to wait for the changes to have the desired impact, but they soon started overpowering Eibar in midfield, as the hosts' early exertions took their toll.

The Yellow Submarine got the goal they craved with 19 minutes remaining. Bruno slipped a low pass to Moreno inside the area and the 22-year-old held off two defenders before curling the ball into the far corner with his left foot.

Vietto had the visitors' final chance of the game when he got on the end of a through-ball in the area but on this occasion the Argentinian forward was unable to repeat his goalscoring heroics against Rayo Vallecano and shot wide of goal.