Betis 0 - Villarreal 1

Betis: Casto; Ilic, Melli, Juanito, Fernando Vega; Arzu, Juande; Odonkor (Pavone 63'), Capi, Xisco (Sobis 75'); José Marí. 4-2-3-1.
Villarreal: Diego López; Javi Venta (Angel 46'), Gonzalo, Godín, Capdevila; Eguren, Marcos Senna; Cazorla, Nihat (Mati Fernández 70'), Cani; Rossi (Tomasson 86'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Betis: Fernando Vega for Damià / Villarreal: Diego López, Cani for Viera, Pires.

Goals:
0-1. 15. Marcos Senna. Shot from half-way line which caught Casto out of his goal.

Villarreal spoiled Real Madrid's title celebrations, a 0-1 victory at Betis at least keeping them in with a mathematical chance of catching the leaders. It was always going to be a difficult game against a side who have won four of their last five matches, and Xisco and José Marí both went close early on. But with a quarter of an hour on the clock Marcos Senna picked up the ball in the centre circle and fired a long shot over the head of Casto to open the scoring.

Casto made up for his mistake with saves from Cani and Nihat before the break, but the locals had their chances as well, Diego López saving from Xisco and José Marí failing to find the target a couple of times soon after the restart. Mati Fernández tested the keeper a couple of times, and López did well to keep out a first time shot from Juanito following a corner.

In the end though Villarreal came away with a win which keeps them ten points behind Madrid, and more importantly for them, four points clear of Barcelona in the battle for the second spot which gives direct access to the league stage of next season's Champions League. Betis themselves suffered a set back, but with 44 points they would already appear to be clear of danger.