Villarreal 4 - Espanyol 0

Villarreal: López Vallejo; Xavi Roca, Quique Alvarez, Quique Medina, Arruabarrena; Jorge López, Amor (Jaime 82'), Javier Gracia (Schelotto 69'), Escoda; Craioveanu (Moisés 74'), Palermo. 4-4-2.
Espanyol: Argensó; Navas, Nando, Rotchen, David García; Morales, Sergio; Iván Díaz (Benítez 69'), Martín Posse (Serrano 74'), Arteaga (Velamazán 46'); Tamudo. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Villarreal: Xavi Roca, Quique Medina, Craioveanu for Galván, Berruet, Víctor / Espanyol: Nando for Lopo.

Goals:
1-0. 09. Escoda. Header on far post after Craioveanu swung ball over from left.
2-0. 40. Gracia. Took short pass from Jorge López and held off defenders.
3-0. 49. Navas (own goal). Miskick trying to clear Craioveanu cross from right.
4-0. 90. Palermo. Headed down past keeper after long centre from Schelotto.

Villarreal moved up into seventh place with one of their best results of the season, and they now await the outcome of the cup final to see whether they have qualified for the UEFA cup for the first time in their history. With both sides out of the running for the top six "European" spots, the match was brought forward to Saturday night to allow it to be televised, although Málaga lodged an official complaint as they were fighting for seventh place with Villarreal, which gave the incumbent the right to the first Intertoto cup spot. The home side were missing both their Víctors, their manager Víctor Muñoz and striker Víctor Fernández both suspended for one match after last week, and Craioveanu was given the nod ahead of Moisés for the vacant forward position alongside Palermo. Nando returned for Espanyol for his first game in several weeks in an otherwise unchanged side.

Villarreal opened the scoring through Escoda in their first attack at goal, the midfielder heading Craioveanu's cross past Argensó, who was replacing the injured Mora. Espanyol came back and hit the woodwork twice, once from Posse from wide out and then from Rotchen, who headed Sergio's free kick against the bar. But then Villarreal struck again, Jorge López finding Gracia for him to somehow place a shot off balance past the Espanyol keeper. Paco Flores brought on Velamazán at the break, but only three minutes later they were three down, Navas turning Craioveanu's cross past his own keeper after Palermo failed to get a foot to it. It was their third goal in three attacks, and a small group of Espanyol supporters had to be ejected from the ground for their violent protests.

After that the game was over, with Argensó keeping the scoreline decent as Villarreal came looking for more goals. They did get one at the end, Palermo heading in Schelotto's centre in the last minute to round things off as the fans celebrated. Villarreal take seventh spot, and if sixth placed Celta win the cup in a fortnight's time they will be in the UEFA cup for the first time ever. In the meanwhile they are sure of a place in the Intertoto, although there is some doubt at the moment over the participation of Spanish teams as the competition begins before the cup final takes place. Espanyol end the season ninth, and could still get the second Intertoto spot if Málaga renounce their rights to play in the competition.