Levante: Rubén; Iván López (Camarasa 38‘), Simao, Feddal, Juanfran, Toño; Jefferson Lerma, José Mari, Morales; Deyverson (Víctor Casadesús 86‘), Roger (Ghilas 69‘). 5-3-2.
Villarreal: Areola; Mario Gaspar, Eric Bailly, Víctor Ruíz, Jokic; Manu Trigueros, Tomás Pina; Samuel (Jonathan Dos Santos 58‘), Nahuel (Jaume Costa 38’), Alfonso Pedraza (Samu Castillejo 46’); Soldado. 4-2-3-1.
Goals:
1-0. 81. Deyverson. Fired acrobatic volley past Areola from Ghilas cross.
Yellow cards: Jokic 04’, 36’, Juanfran 19’, Morales 50’, Jaume Costa 60’, José Mari 84’, Soldado 84’, Víctor Ruíz 87’, Rubén 92’ / red cards: Jokic 36’.
Villarreal remain in first place despite losing 1-0 at neighbours Levante on Sunday evening, results elsewhere favouring them as none of the top six were able to win. The hosts began the day at the foot of the table, but it appeared that they were the higher ranked of the two teams as they dominated play for much of the match. Once again Marcelino made several changes to his line up after Thursday night’s Europa Cup game, and they could have gone behind when Feddal headed a good chance over, and Roger brought a couple of good saves out of Areola. With ten minutes to go to the break the visitors were left with ten men when Jokic was sent off after picking up a second booking for a tackle which took Iván López out of the fray, and Areola had to make further stops from Roger, Deyverson and Camarasa either side of half time to keep the scoreline unmoved. Levante went ahead though with seven minutes to go when Deyverson connected with a Ghilas cross to fire a spaectacular volley past the visiting keeper, and although Trigueros and Mario finally tested Rubén, Ghilas could have increased the lead had he been able to find the net on quick breakaway near the end.