Villarreal defeated Valencia 2-1 at home in the last match of 2022 with the help of Samuel Chukwueze's first La Liga goal of the year.
After the visitors took the lead after 45 minutes, Chukwueze tied the score for Villarreal.
After 14 games, it was his first La Liga goal of the year.
Villarreal currently holds the seventh-place spot in La Liga after 15 games and 24 points.
In another La Liga match in Spain, Barcelona and Espanyol played to a scoreless draw at the Nou Camp on New Year's Eve.
After seven minutes, Marcos Alonso gave Barca the lead, but a Joselu penalty brought them back.
In the last seconds, Barcelona fullback Jordi Alba was issued a second caution, and the visitors' Vinicius Souza was also expelled.
Leandro Cabrera of Espanyol was also dismissed by the referee, however, VAR reversed that decision.
Barcelona, despite their loss, reclaimed first place in La Liga on goal differential over Real Madrid, who defeated Real Valladolid 2-0 on Friday.
Yesterday, Andreas Christensen's flick set up Alonso's close-range goal, although Barcelona had other opportunities to increase their lead.
When Alonso clipped Joselu in the penalty area with 17 minutes left, the ex-Newcastle and Stoke striker picked himself up to put the spot-kick down the centre, making them pay.