Villarreal have won their first away match of the season by beating Sevilla 2-1 from Javier Camunas’ late goal, exacerbating the Andalusian club’s struggles in the Spanish league.
Villarreal caught the hosts outnumbered on a counterattack, allowing Camunas to bend a shot into the left side of the net for the 81st-minute winner.
Sevilla had been aiming for a top-four finish to return to the Champions League come next season but haven’t won in seven straight league matches to slide into the middle part of the standings.
Borja Valero gave Villarreal the lead in the 23rd minute in Sunday’s match, the midfielder passing to Angel Lopez wide on the right flank and then racing through the middle of Sevilla’s passive defence to volley the cross beyond the goalkeeper.
Moments after Sevilla forward Frederic Kanoute’s header was tipped over the bar by goalkeeper Diego Lopez, the hosts pulled level in the 33rd when Villarreal midfielder Bruno Soriano deflected Jesus Navas’ hard blast from edge of area into his own net.
Looking to spark his stagnant attack, Sevilla coach Marcelino Garcia sent on forward Jose Antonio Reyes for a defender after the interval. But Lopez made a number of saves to deny Sevilla and Villarreal went up the other end to score a late goal.
Villarreal climbed out of the drop zone with their first win in 11 away games in the league this season.
Earlier in northern Spain, Sporting Gijon were held to a 1-1 home draw by Osasuna in the debut of coach Inaki Tejada.
Sporting took the lead at the rainy El Molinon stadium in the 32nd minute when midfielder Carmelo Gonzalez volleyed in a cross from Roberto Canella.
But Osasuna showed more attacking intent after halftime, and striker Dejan Lekic turned a header past goalkeeper Juan Colinas to level the score in the 78th.
“I am the coach until they tell me otherwise, and I’m not thinking about anything besides next week’s game,” said Tejada, who took over from Manolo Preciado after he was fired earlier this week.
Preciado’s five-plus seasons on Sporting’s sidelines had made him the longest-reigning coach in Spain’s top flight. Sporting have won one of their last six games and remain in the relegation zone.
Last-place Zaragoza host Rayo Vallecano later, while third-place Valencia are at Atletico Madrid.
On Saturday, leader Real Madrid edged out Getafe 1-0 to remain seven points clear of Barcelona, which beat Real Sociedad 2-1. Also, it was: Mallorca 1, Real Betis 0; Athletic Bilbao 3, Espanyol 3 and Levante 1, Racing Santander 1.
Malaga play Granada on Monday.