Villarreal defeat Eibar: fourth place lead is now eight points

Villarreal picked up an important road win today with a hard-fought and somewhat controversial 2-1 win at Eibar. The home side scored first, perhaps one of the few miscues Alphonse Areola has made all season--he failed to collect a cross from a tight angle and the ball was eventually fired home off a Villarreal defender.

Villarreal came back with a goal from Adrian, a tap-in after Denis Suarez had made the perfect pass to Roberto Soldado, just on-side, and his shot had bounded off the keeper. Soldado scored a controversial second goal--the cross from Suarez found him in an offside position, but in fact the ball came off an Eibar player's foot to Soldado. The referee overruled the linesman and allowed the goal to stand, to the fury of the home faithful.

The Villarreal fans in the corner, with a large banner celebrating their road trip and their enjoyment of the Basque txakoli wine, were delighted. and while the Submarine spurned a couple of chances to add to their lead, in the end two goals proved to be enough.

Even better news came later in the day when Sevilla lost at home for the first time this season, to Real Sociedad. Villarreal now lead Sevilla and Athletic Bilbao by nine points,Celta Vigo by eight, seven matches left. Highlights are here:

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