Substitute Joseba Llorente headed an injury-time winner as Villarreal recorded their first away win of the season at the expense of Atletico Madrid, who are now just a point above the relegation zone following today's results.
Llorente, who had only been on the pitch 10 minutes after replacing Giuseppe Rossi, sent a diving header past Sergio Asenjo in the 91st minute to help Villarreal claim a comeback win in the battle between La Liga's two biggest underachievers so far this season.
Earlier, Atletico had taken a first-half lead through captain Simao Sabrosa but David Fuster brought Villarreal level just after half-time before Llorente's late effort helped the Yellow Submarine climb up to 10th in the standings.
Neither side have had much to shout about this season - Villarreal suffering their worst-ever start to a Primera Division campaign and Atletico recording their poorest start in 56 years - but both sides had started to show signs of improvement recently.
Villarreal, having been bottom of the table with just three points from seven games, had won seven of their previous 10 matches in all competitions, while Atletico had beaten Espanyol 4-0 and Xerez 2-0 in their last two league outings.
However, the Rojiblancos suffered a humbling 3-0 home loss to Porto in the Champions League in midweek and they looked shaky at the start of tonight's match.
Porto netted twice in the opening 14 minutes and it could have been a similar story today if it was not for Atletico goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo, who produced superb saves to tip two early Fuster efforts behind for corners.
Ruben Cani then sent a low cross flashing across the face of goal before Rossi curled a shot just inches wide of the far post.
That was all in the opening 17 minutes, so it was something of a surprise when Atletico took the lead in the 36th minute through Simao.
Jose Antonio Reyes created the opportunity with a brilliant pass through the heart of the Villarreal defence that Simao latched onto before curling a first-time shot past Diego Lopez.
Villarreal, who had earned just one point from six away games prior to today, will have felt hard done-by to be behind at the break, especially as Rossi brought another save out of Asenjo just prior to the interval.
However, Ernesto Valverde's side had to wait just three minutes of the second half to get back on terms.
Joan Capdevila's high cross into the area really should have been dealt with by the Atletico defence, but Juanito allowed Fuster to get in front of him and head past the helpless Asenjo.
Both sides had chances to get their noses back in front during the remainder of an open second half, with Maxi Rodriguez diverting a corner inches wide for the hosts and Rossi again testing Asenjo at the other end.
Villarreal defender Diego Godin then blazed a great opportunity high and wide from 12 yards out in the 78th minute before a crucial block by Lopez at the other end denied Reyes.
Reyes suffered a nasty fall during that challenge and he was stretchered off in a neck brace after landing on his head.
With neither side able to make the most of their chances the game looked set to finish in a draw, but Llorente had other ideas and his last-gasp goal helped lift Villarreal into the top half of the table.
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