Aberdeen 0 - 1 Villarreal: Spanish side edge out Dons

A CROWD of just under 10,000 turned out to honour Darren Mackie's 12 years of service in Aberdeen's top team but the striker's failure in front of goal was a factor in Villarreal's victory.

The 29-year-old, who made his competitive debut when Ebbe Skovdahl was in charge, only lacked the final touch to cap his first outing at Pittodrie since rupturing his cruciate ligament there last November. It was an impressive attendance as the home supporters also took the chance to assess some of the players Craig Brown has added to the squad, and overall they would have left impressed.

Youl Mawene looked solid in central defence, while on-loan Manchester City goalkeeper David Gonzalez made a couple of fine saves to deny Villarreal's impressive captain Marco Senna and then substitute Guiseppe Rossi. Villarreal showed flashes of the exquisite skills that saw them qualify for this season's Champions League despite only resuming training last week but a much more match ready Aberdeen showed encouraging signs for their own trials ahead. Former Coventry City midfielder Isaac Osbourne was combative alongside Rob Milsom while youngsters Ryan Jack and Peter Pawlett provided pace and penetration down the flanks. In fact Jack went close to giving the Dons and early lead with a near post shot that Diego Lopez was happy to parry round the post while Mackie might well have marked his big night with a goal in 20 minutes.

Pawlett's pass sent him scurrying clear down the left but the striker elected to cross instead of going directly for goal where Musacchio nearly turned the ball into his own goal. Only a brilliant last ditch block by Mario denied Mackie a certain goal just after the break but the Spanish side's class showed as they hit the front in 52 minutes. Santi Cazorla split the Aberdeen defence with a through ball that Rossi drilled in to the top left hand corner from just inside the area.

Mackie's enjoyment of the occasion would only be slightly diminished when he struck a cross from substitute Josh Magennis wide of an open goal in 75 minutes but overall Aberdeen look ready for the visit of St Johnstone in the SPL on Saturday.

Aberdeen: Gonzalez, Jack, Foster, Osbourne, Mawene, Considine, Robertson, Milsom, Vernon, Mackie, Pawlett. Subs: Lukasik, Grimmer, Magennis, Paton, Low, Brown, Megginson.

Villarreal: Lopez, Oriol, Musacchio, Zazorla, Ruben, Cani, Kiko, Senna, Valero, Bruno, Marcio. Subs:Cesar, Marchena, Capdevila, Rossi, Castellani, Joselu, Wakaso, Bordas, Pere, Gullon,Iriome.

Referee: C Allan.