First Division - Day 24

Villarreal 1 - Málaga 0

Villarreal: Areola; Mario Gaspar, Musacchio, Víctor Ruíz, Jaume Costa; Jonathan Dos Santos, Manu Trigueros, Bruno, Denis Suárez (Samu Castillejo 64’); Soldado (Bakambu 73’), Leo Baptistao (Tomás Pina 86’). 4-4-2.
Málaga: Kameni; Rosales, Albentosa, Weligton, Miguel Torres; Juanpi (Uche 83‘), Camacho, Tissone (Duda 62‘), Pablo Fornals; Charles, Duje Cop (Santa Cruz 73’). 4-4-2.

Goals: .
1-0. 18. Soldado. Picked up Baptistao return pass and fired low shot past Kameni.

Yellow cards: Albentosa 33’, Trigueros 76’, Bakambu 90‘.

Villarreal consolidated fourth spot on Saturday evening, a 1-0 win over Málaga opening up an eleven point gap over the chasing teams pending Sunday’s fixtures. Soldado went close a couple of times before picking up a return pass to beat Kameni with just under twenty minutes gone, and the visiting keeper had to be at his best to save from Jonathan Dos Santos later on in the first half. Areola was also tested at the other end though when Duje Cop got free on goal, and after the interval Juanpi and Duda also tried their luck. An eleventh game without defeat though for Marcelino’s side, and they must now be clear favourites for that last Champions League spot.