Villarreal 2 - Getafe 0

Villarreal: Diego López; Javi Venta, Gonzalo, Godín, Capdevila; Bruno, Marcos Senna; Cazorla, Nihat (Tomasson 60'), Pires (Mati Fernández 68'); Rossi (Cani 80'). 4-2-3-1.
Getafe: Pato Abbondanzieri; David Cortés, Cata Díaz, Tena, Licht (Gavilán 62'); Pallardó, De la Red (Mario Cotelo 77'); Contra, Albín (Manu del Moral 56'), Granero; Braulio. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Villarreal: Bruno, Pires for Eguren, Cani / Getafe: Tena, Pallardó, Contra, Granero, Braulio for Belenguer, Casquero, Pablo Hernández, Gavilán, Manu del Moral.

Goals:
1-0. 36. Nihat. Turned ball past Pato on far post after Rossi crossed in from left.
2-0. 43. Nihat. Controlled square pass from Pires and fired shot wide of keeper.

Villarreal were still in with a chance of a first ever league title at the start of the weekend. And they gave it their best shot, beating struggling Getafe 2-0 to keep up the pressure on Real Madrid. Bernd Schuster's side won later in the day though, leaving "the Yellow Submarine" with the still impressive goal of tying up second spot and an automatic place in the Champions League.

Getafe needed points to avoid the danger zone, and they had most of the early play, with Braulio and Albín going close and Licht and Granero bringing saves out of Diego López. But Nihat struck twice before half time to put the game out of their opponents' reach, the first after Rossi set him up and the second after connecting with a pass from Pires.

Gavilán missed a chance to get one back after the restart, but the locals could have increased their lead when Tomasson and Capdevila hit the woodwork and Cazorla, Rossi and Cani forced Pato into a string of good saves. Another defeat for Michael Laudrup's side though, and they are now only two points above the drop zone.