Numancia 1 - Villarreal 3

Numancia: Raúl; Manel, Antía (Ojeda 50'), Marini, Jaume (David Pirri 65'); Iñaki, Nagore, Pacheta, José Manuel; Rosu, Rubén Navarro. 4-4-2.
Villarreal: López Vallejo; Xavi Roca (Galván 67'), Berruet, Quique Alvarez, Arruabarrena; Jorge López, Amor, Javier Gracia, Calleja; Víctor (Moisés 84'), Craioveanu (Jaime 80'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Numancia: Rubén Navarro for Iván Pérez / Villarreal: Jorge López, Craioveanu for Schelotto, Palermo.

Goals:
0-1. 48. Craioveanu. Speculative shot over keeper way out on right.
0-2. 75. Jorge López. At second attempt after Craioveanu hit post.
1-2. 78. Nagore. Headed over keeper from left after cross by José Manuel.
1-3. 85. Moisés. Rounded keeper and shot through crowded goalmouth.

Numancia took one step closer to the second division after failing to take their chances in a game which they dominated for much of the 90 minutes. Having only picked up three draws in their last six games to sink to the bottom of the league table, they were desperate for a victory to keep in touch with the other relegation candidates. Manager García Remón kept faith with the side which drew at Las Palmas last week, only changing his front man Iván Pérez for Rubén Navarro, although he changed his formation back to his more usual 4-4-2 after trying out a five man defence against the Canary Islanders. Their opponents Villarreal also needed points to relaunch their assault on the European spots after only picking up two points in their passage through the renamed Bermuda quadrangle, and they lined up with only one of their four ex Boca Juniors stars in their starting line up, with Palermo serving a one match suspension, Cagna injured and Jorge López returning from his one match ban replacing Schelotto.

Numancia pinned Villarreal back in their own half right from the start, but were unable to convert their scoring opportunities, with López Vallejo saving from Nagore and Rubén Navarro when they did get shots on target. Then just after the break Palermo's replacement Craioveanu caught Raúl off his line with a magnificent shot from 30 yards out on the right to open the scoring against the run of play. García Remón brought on an extra forward Ojeda, and a couple of minutes later the visitors were reduced to ten men when Undiano Mallenco sent off Gracia for a second bookable offence. Numancia increased their pressure on the Villarreal goal, but López Vallejo saved them time and time again with a string of first class saves, in particular from José Manuel, Ojeda and a point blank stop from Rosu.

But the home side were taking risks at the back, and Jorge López extended the visitors lead after Raúl saved his first effort to leave the Soria team reeling. Nagore pulled a goal back soon afterwards to give them a hope of saving something, but late substitute Moisés took advantage of a rare opportunity to score within seconds of coming on in another counterattack. It was more than Villarreal deserved, but it took them back in contention for the last UEFA spot, rising to seventh only a point behind sixth placed Celta. Numancia lose ground on Racing and Osasuna, who both picked up a point, and they are now four points away from possible survival. With plans for an expensive new stadium under way and the club already struggling financially, the future looks grim. They only have six games left to save themselves and time is running out.