Earlier Sunday in Seville, Ukraine midfielder Yevhen Konoplyanka scored the decisive goal with a 65th-minute long-range shot as Sevilla beat Villarreal 4-2 to stay in the fight for a Champions League spot.
The team’s 13th straight home victory in the league helped it move within five points of Villarreal.
“We showed that we have character and that we will fight until the end for the fourth spot,” Sevilla defender Adil Rami said. “This club and these fans deserve to be in the Champions (League).”
Sevilla opened the scoring at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium with a goal by Vicente Iborra in the 23rd minute. French striker Cedric Bakambu put Villarreal ahead with goals in the 29th and 37th, but the hosts equalized with an own goal by defender Victor Ruiz in the 51st before Konoplyanka netted with a powerful right-foot shot from about 30 meters (30 yards).
Substitute midfielder Jose Antonio Reyes sealed the victory after a breakaway in injury time.
Sevilla played with 10 men from the 79th after midfielder Ever Banega was sent off for a foul that earned him a second yellow card.
Sevilla has won every match at home since a 2-1 loss to Celta Vigo in the league’s third round. Barcelona and Real Madrid are among the teams it defeated at the Sanchez-Pizjuan.
It was the second straight loss for Villarreal, which has only one victory in its last five league games.
Villarreal and Sevilla are in the round of 16 of the Europa League. Sevilla will play the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona on May 22.
Also Sunday, striker Giuseppe Rossi scored a 65th-minute winner to give last-place Levante a 1-0 win over Valencia in the city derby.
Gary Neville’s team has lost three of its last four league games and dropped to 12th in the standings.
“I accept responsibility for the defeat,” an upset Neville said. “It was an indefensible performance, not acceptable, not good enough. I apologize to the fans of Valencia. I can’t defend what I’ve just seen. And I need to take full responsibility for that.”
Sixth-place Athletic Bilbao defeated Real Betis 3-1 at home to win its fourth league game in a row and remain one point behind Sevilla.
