First Division - Day 37

Villarreal 2 - Valencia 0

Villarreal: Diego López; Ángel, Gonzalo, Godín, Capdevila; Cani (Marcos Senna 85'), Bruno, Ibagaza, Cazorla (Javi Venta 77'); Llorente, Rossi (Pires 83'). 4-4-2.
Valencia: Moyà; Miguel (Pablo Hernández 77'), Marchena, David Navarro, Jordi Alba; Albelda, Manuel Fernandes (Chori Domíngez 68'); Joaquín, Banega, Vicente (Mata 61'); Zigic. 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 10. Rossi. Steered shot wide of Moyà after Llorente played on Cani cross.
2-0. 17. Llorente Ran in to head Ángel's long centre down under keeper.

Yellow cards: Marchena 05', Bruno 09', Miguel 13', Llorente 13', 71', Albelda 52', Vicente 59', Zigic 63', Capdevila 72', 72', Diego López 73', Jordi Alba 78' / red cards: Llorente 71', Capdevila 72'.

Villarreal are still in with a good chance of a Europa League spot after they beat local rivals Valencia 2-0, despite ending the game with nine men. Unai Emery's side had nothing to play for after tying up third spot, and at Vicente Del Bosque's request striker David Villa was rested. It wouldn't have mattered much though if he had played, as his replacement Zigic hardly had sight of goal throughout the match.

With just over a quarter of an hour gone the locals had already taken a comfortable lead, Rossi opening the scoring after Llorente flicked back Cani's cross, and Llorente himself getting on the end of Angel's long centre to head past Moyà. And Juan Carlos Garrido's team could have gone further ahead as Cani brought a good save out of the keeper then just failed to turn in Cazorla's cross either side of half time.

Things became more complicated with twenty minutes to go when Llorente was sent off for a second bookable offence, and Capdevila followed him down the tunnel after comments he made to referee. But other than a header wide by Zigic the visitors had no reply. Villarreal ended behind Getafe on head-to-head goal difference, but even if they fail to overtake Michel's side next week they could still qualify for Europe if Sevilla finish in the Europa League spots and then win the cup, thereby freeing up a Europa League spot for the seventh placed side.