Villarreal's dream of playing Champions League football next season
lives on after they overcame local rivals Valencia 3-1 at El Madrigal,
but Los Che's own hopes of a top-four finish are now over.
Joseba Llorente set Villarreal on their way with two goals in the
opening 30 minutes and although Valencia halved the difference with
a David Villa strike just before the break, the home side secured
the spoils thanks to Ruben Cani's effort midway through the second
period.
The victory means Villarreal still have a chance of finishing in
the top four, although they need to beat Real Mallorca in their
final game next weekend and hope Atletico Madrid lose at home to
Almeria.
Fourth-placed Atletico remained two points ahead of Villarreal
after beating Athletic Bilbao 4-1, and they also boast the better
head-to-head record against the Yellow Submarine this season which
means they can afford to draw against Almeria and still finish in
fourth place.
For Valencia though their Champions League dream is over, and with
the club in serious financial trouble it remains to be seen how
that failure will influence the futures of star players such as
David Villa and David Silva.
Both Villarreal and Valencia started the game level on 59 points
and knowing that anything other than a win could make it impossible
for them to finish in the top four.
And it was Villarreal who took the bull by the horns, racing into
a two-goal lead inside the opening half-hour.
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