Villarreal managed to pull level with local rivals Valencia on Sunday in the battle for third place in the Spanish Liga.
Villarreal scored a tight 1-0 win at sixth-place Athletic Bilbao, while Valencia crashed 1-0 at home to Sevilla, who are now seventh.
Villarreal and Valencia both have 54 points from 29 games. This is 19 points behind second-place Real Madrid, who won 2-1 on Saturday at neighbours Atletico.
Real are five points behind leaders Barcelona, 2-1 winners over Getafe on Saturday.
Villarreal won in Bilbao thanks to a solitary strike from Marco Ruben.
The Argentine striker, standing in for the injured Nilmar, broke the deadlock in the 59th minute by heading in a perfect centre from Spain midfielder Borja Valero.
World Cup striker Fernando Llorente twice came close to equalizing for Bilbao, only to be foiled by Villarreal keeper Diego Lopez.
Villarreal coach Juan Carlos Garrido said: "We were very solid today. We have taken an important step towards the Champions League."
Later Sunday, Valencia went down at home against well-organized Sevilla. The only goal was put away by newcomer Ivan Rakitic with a fierce left-foot drive 19 minutes from time, after a poor clearance from Valencia midfielder Mehmet Topal.
Sunday's early games all had relegation significance.
Hercules crashed to the bottom of the table with a 4-0 meltdown at home to Osasuna, a result which led to the sacking of coach Esteban Vigo.
Osasuna's goals were scored by Javier Camunas, Nelson, Kristzian Vadocz and Kike Sola.
Hercules are level on 26 points with Almeria, but with an even worse goal difference. On Sunday Almeria lost 1-0 at Sporting Gijon, for whom Miguel de las Cuevas scored the only goal.
Malaga moved three points above Almeria and Hercules by beating fifth-placed Espanyol 2-0, with two goals from promising Venezuelan striker Jose Rondon.
Malaga are one point below Zaragoza and Deportivo Coruna. Zaragoza lost 1-0 on Saturday at Mallorca, and Deportivo crashed 1-0 on Sunday at home to Levante, for whom supersub Ruben Suarez scored a late, late winner.
Levante have done well to move above the danger zone in recent weeks, the same as Osasuna. Another team moving out of trouble are Racing Santander, who beat Real Sociedad 2-1 with goals from Kennedy and Giovani.
Villarreal scored a tight 1-0 win at sixth-place Athletic Bilbao, while Valencia crashed 1-0 at home to Sevilla, who are now seventh.
Villarreal and Valencia both have 54 points from 29 games. This is 19 points behind second-place Real Madrid, who won 2-1 on Saturday at neighbours Atletico.
Real are five points behind leaders Barcelona, 2-1 winners over Getafe on Saturday.
Villarreal won in Bilbao thanks to a solitary strike from Marco Ruben.
The Argentine striker, standing in for the injured Nilmar, broke the deadlock in the 59th minute by heading in a perfect centre from Spain midfielder Borja Valero.
World Cup striker Fernando Llorente twice came close to equalizing for Bilbao, only to be foiled by Villarreal keeper Diego Lopez.
Villarreal coach Juan Carlos Garrido said: "We were very solid today. We have taken an important step towards the Champions League."
Later Sunday, Valencia went down at home against well-organized Sevilla. The only goal was put away by newcomer Ivan Rakitic with a fierce left-foot drive 19 minutes from time, after a poor clearance from Valencia midfielder Mehmet Topal.
Sunday's early games all had relegation significance.
Hercules crashed to the bottom of the table with a 4-0 meltdown at home to Osasuna, a result which led to the sacking of coach Esteban Vigo.
Osasuna's goals were scored by Javier Camunas, Nelson, Kristzian Vadocz and Kike Sola.
Hercules are level on 26 points with Almeria, but with an even worse goal difference. On Sunday Almeria lost 1-0 at Sporting Gijon, for whom Miguel de las Cuevas scored the only goal.
Malaga moved three points above Almeria and Hercules by beating fifth-placed Espanyol 2-0, with two goals from promising Venezuelan striker Jose Rondon.
Malaga are one point below Zaragoza and Deportivo Coruna. Zaragoza lost 1-0 on Saturday at Mallorca, and Deportivo crashed 1-0 on Sunday at home to Levante, for whom supersub Ruben Suarez scored a late, late winner.
Levante have done well to move above the danger zone in recent weeks, the same as Osasuna. Another team moving out of trouble are Racing Santander, who beat Real Sociedad 2-1 with goals from Kennedy and Giovani.
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