Karl Toko Ekambi scored Villarreal’s only goal in their 3-1 defeat to Espanyol on Sunday.
The Cameroon international equalised for the visitors just before the half-time to cancel out Hernan Perez's seventh-minute opener at the RCDE Stadium.
However, second-half goals from Sergi Darder and Pablo Piatti sealed the win for the Catalunya outfit.
Toko Ekambi was later replaced by Carlos Bacca in the 67th minute after registering his second league goal for Javier Calleja's team since he arrived from Angers in the summer.
Nigerian youngster Samuel Chukwueze played no part in the encounter for Villarreal who have lost four of their opening eight league games.