Villarreal picked up a deserved win at BATE Borisov - well, at Minsk - at half-pace, killing off the game early on with an away goal before running down the clock with comfort. The Belarussians had no chance after that first goal and seemed happy enough to avoid injury, knowing which way the result was going, but the Villarreal players put a little bit extra into it, many of them being unusual picks fighting for a place. Overall, though, both teams knew the job was done.

There were no massive surprises in the BATE lineup or gameplan, a 4-4-2 counterattack and containing game, although Rodionov earned a start on the right, which was the sole real unorthodox move. Overall, though, it was a futile attempt to fight back, key striker Bliznyuk and partner Krivets seeing very little of the ball. Villareal went 4-4-2, but with a twist: the likes of Bruno and Mavuba were given starts in midfield, with only half the team being made up of regulars. Still, they played a typically dynamic 4-4-2 with lots of playing into space, as usual.

The two central midfielders were perhaps a bit nervous for the Yellow Submarine early on as they played a very patient, almost too cautious game, but after a few minutes they had the measure of their opponents and Villareal began to dictate play. They didn't have too many clear-cut chances but were always in and around the final third until the opener came, Ruben Cani - angling for a first team place - getting on the end of a nice through ball from Mati Fernandez - who had switched from left to right flank for the purpose - to sidefoot home. BATE fought back mostly through long balls and set pieces, testing Diego Lopez very well with one, but Villarreal were the stronger side by far heading into the interval.

After half time, there were changes, Cygan being given a rest, but BATE stuck with their regular lineup until late on. Not too much changed except Villarreal, under instructions of boss Pellegrini, slowed down, the eye now being on the weekend Liga game. Still, they had one more goal in them, a sweet long range effort trundling across the ground from Angel Lopez, who thus grabbed his first goal for the club, after some good play in midfield. BATE, again, tried to hit back to give the silent "home" support something to cheer about, but couldn't.

Villarreal coach Pellegrini's after-match comments said it all: they won easily and avoided injury. That was the purpose, and that was the outcome. Now, they'll rotate the team again for Liga duty, and play a bit harder. So, all said and done, it was a positive result that keeps the side's good run going. BATE were the lowest seeded team in the competition and, for them, scoring an away goal in the first leg was all the success they could hope for, realistically. At least they kept the score down, but their play was unimaginative here and deserved nothing.