Granada: Roberto; Nyom, Coeff, Murillo, Brayan Angulo; Fran Rico, Iturra, Recio; Riki (Foulquier 84’), El-Arabi (Michael Pereira 68’), Brahimi (Dani Benítez 80’). 4-3-3.
Villarreal: Sergio Asenjo, Mario, Gabriel Paulista, Bruno, Jaume Costa; Moi Gómez (Cani 46’), Manu Trigueros (Pantic 57’), Tomás Pina, Oliver Torres; Uche, Jonathan Pereira (Perbet 57‘). 4-4-2.
Goals:
1-0. 20. Fran Rico (penalty). After Bruno brought down Riki inside penalty area.
2-0. 38. El-Arabi. Ran on to Fran Rico pass and struck angled shot past Asenjo.
Yellow cards: Riki 25’, Gabriel 46’, Brahimi 64’, Iturra 82’.
Fifth placed Villarreal lost ground on fourth placed Athletic Bilbao after they were beaten 2-0 by Granada in the last game of Saturday evening. The visitors were missing their two first-choice central defenders, and although Uche brought an early save out of Robert, makeshift centre-back Bruno gave away a penalty on Riki which Fran Rico converted. Trigueros and Riki traded long shots, but with seven minutes to go to the break El-Arabi made it two after running on to a through ball from Fran Rico. After the interval El-Arabi and Recio failed to find the target with long shots, and Pina tested Roberto with a header, but the Andalusians held on for an important victory which takes them four points clear of the relegation spots.