Villarreal: Areola; Eric Bailly, Musacchio (Víctor Ruíz 46‘), Bonera, Adrián Marín; Nahuel, Manu Trigueros (Tomás Pina 70‘), Bruno, Samu Castillejo; Leo Baptistao, Adrián López (Bakambu 73‘). 4-4-2.
Levante: Diego Mariño; Jefferson Lerma, David Navarro, Medjani, Toño; Verdú (Cuero 54’), Verza, Simao, Morales (Xumetra 72‘); Deyverson, Rossi (Camarasa 54’). 4-4-2.
Goals:
1-0. 12. Baptistao. Shot from wide on the left which went through legs of Mariño.
2-0. 30. Castillejo. Latched on to Adrián López pass and struck shot past keeper.
3-0. 48. Adrián López. Picked up Nahuel pass and ran on to shoot in off far post.
Yellow cards: David Navarro 27’, 56’, Jefferson Lerma 39’, Verza 44’ / red cards: David Navarro 56’.
Fourth placed Villarreal beat neighbours Levante 3-0 on Sunday to close the gap on Real Madrid to two points. Leo Baptistao opened the scoring early on after picking up a pass from Bruno, his angled shot squeezing under the legs of Diego Mariño and in to the net. Samu Castillejo and Baptistao went close after that, and with half an hour gone Castillejo made it two after latching on to an Adrián López pass to fire a low shot past the keeper. Soon afterwards Baptistao missed an easy header, and although Areola had to keep out Morales at the other end, Adrián ran on to a Nahuel through ball to score his side’s third just three minutes after the restart. Any chance Levante had of a comeback ended when David Navarro was sent off for a second bookable offence, and they ended the day back at the foot of the table, now four points away from safety.