Villarreal’s scoreless draw with Real Betis Balompie was good enough for them to provisionally pull level on points with third-placed Real Madrid in La Liga on Saturday.
Villarreal’s best scoring opportunity came just moments after kickoff of an evenly contested match at El Madrigal when Roberto Soldado sent the ball off the far upright.
Fourth-placed Villarreal’s winning streak ended at six straight, but they equaled Real Madrid on points and moved within four points of leaders Atletico Madrid and two points off Barcelona before all three title rivals were due to play yesterday.
Photo: AFP
“Those were a lot of victories, but they covered up how we were playing. We need to rest our minds and then get back to training,” Villarreal coach Marcelino Garcia said. “This can help us to improve.”
Elsewhere on Saturday, RC Celta de Vigo got two goals from John Guidetti to earn a 4-3 win after weathering bottom-side Levante UD’s spirited second-half rally, while Sevilla downed Malaga 2-1.
Guidetti turned in an Iago Aspas back-pass to break through in the first half and five minutes later the striker chipped home his second.
Aspas added a third from a solo effort, but Celta staggered after Levante’s Deyverson and Pedro Lopez scored twice in a three-minute span with 20 minutes left.
Fabian Orellana’s goal appeared to have finished Levante off, until Jose Morales added drama to the end after scoring in the 88th minute.
“We played more with heart than with good football, now we must start winning games,” Levante goalkeeper Diego Marino said.
Manuel “Nolito” Agudo watched from the stands amid speculation of a transfer to Barcelona, as his Celta side broke a three-game losing streak to remain in fifth place.
Sevilla stayed in sixth after striker Kevin Gameiro scored two goals just before halftime to help them beat Malaga for its ninth consecutive home win.
Gameiro ran onto a long free-kick by Adil Rami and lifted the ball over goalkeeper Carlos Kameni to open the scoring for the hosts before halftime.
He made it 11 league goals this season just two minutes later when Sevilla struck on the break, this time using a deft flick with the inside of his boot to beat Kameni.
Charles scored in the second half for Malaga, who suffered their first defeat in eight matches.
“This team needs confidence and Kevin showed that today,” Sevilla manager Unai Emery said. “He has a knack for scoring and it’s our job to create chances for him.”
Sevilla’s Vicente Iborra and Malaga’s Arthur Boka were sent off for two yellow cards each.
Also on Saturday, Real Sociedad midfielder Xabi Prieto earned and converted a penalty in the 75th minute to salvage a 1-1 draw at home to RC Deportivo de La Coruna after Luis Alberto put the visitors in front.
Sociedad hit the crossbar twice in the final minutes, before having to settle for a point.
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