Villarreal: Diego López; Mario Gaspar,
Gonzalo, Marchena, Capdevila; Cazorla, Bruno, Borja Valero, Cani (Wakaso 70');
Nilmar (Musacchio 82'), Rossi (Marco Rubén 77'). 4-4-2.
Hércules: Calatayud; David Cortés, Abraham
Paz, Pamarot, Juanra; Fritzler (Cristian 77'), Abel Aguilar; Tiago Gomes (Kiko
Femenía 58'), Tote, Portillo (Thomert 70'); Trézéguet.
4-4-2.
Goals:
1-0. 21. Rossi. Picked up Cani through ball and ran
on to shoot low past keeper.
Yellow cards: Cazorla 40', Pamarot 46', Tote 84', Marco Rubén 89' .
Villarreal closed to within a point of Valencia after a 1-0 win against regional neighbours Hércules on Wednesday evening. The home side had not won in four games, but Cazorla and Rossi both went close before Rossi ran on to Cani's through ball with just over twenty minutes gone to shoot past Calatayud and open the scoring. The visiting keeper did well to stop Rossi and Cazorla either side of half time, and Nilmar, Cazorla and Marco Rubén all wasted chances to add to the lead after that. But they were up against a poor Hércules side who had not scored away from home in their last ten games, and the only time Diego López was tested was when substitute Cristian drove in a long shot near the end. The Alicante based side ended the day just a point above the relegation spots.