Villarreal: Juan Carlos; Rukavina, Víctor Ruíz, Dorado (Mario Gaspar 88‘), Jokic; Joel Campbell (Moi Gómez 46‘), Manu Trigueros, Bruno, Jaume Costa; Giovani (Gerard Moreno 72‘), Vietto. 4-4-2.
Málaga: Kameni; Rosales, Angeleri, Weligton, Miguel Torres; Sergi Darder, Camacho; Samu Castillejo (Duda 70‘), Amrabat, Ricardo Horta (Juanmi 63‘); Javi Guerra. 4-2-3-1.
Goals:
1-0. 82. Moreno. Turned shot past keeper after Vietto touched on Rukavina cross.
2-0. 87. Moreno. Intercepted poor Kameni clearance and lifted shot over keeper.
2-1. 90. Darder. Steered header back past Juan Carlos from Duda’s lofted centre.
Yellow cards: Giovani 69’, Vietto 73’, Darder 76’, Rukavina 86’.
The remaining Europa League spots are still up for grabs, although how many places are available will not be known until the Copa del Rey and Europa League finals have taken place. Sixth placed Villarreal are already sure of one of those though, and they pushed Málaga down to eighth after beating the Andalusians 2-1. Javi Guerra was a constant menace for the visitors, the striker shooting wide across goal early on, and then testing Juan Carlos a couple of times after that. Villarreal’s best effort was a shot just wide by Manu Trigueros before the break, but with eight minutes to go Gerard Moreno got on the end of Rukavina’s centre to give his team the lead. A couple of minutes later Víctor Ruíz blocked another shot from Guerra, and soon afterwards Moreno got his second of the evening after Kameni gifted him the ball in front of goal. Sergi Darder did head a late consolation from Duda’s cross in the dying minutes, but the goal came too late to change the result.