Espanyol's Adria Pedrosa (R) vies with Jorge de Frutos during a La Liga match between Levante UD and RCD Espanyol in Valencia, Spain, March 12, 2022. (Photo by Pablo Morano/Xinhua)
MADRID, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Dani Parejo's goal midway through the second half gave Villarreal a narrow 1-0 win at home to Celta Vigo in Spanish La Liga to strengthen his side's chances of playing in Europe next season.
An entertaining match that could have gone either way was decided by the midfielder's finish after an excellent backheel assist from midfielder Manu Trigueros.
Dani Gomez saved a point for Levante with an 80th minute equalizer at home to Espanyol. Gomez had only been on the pitch for two minutes before cancelling out Javi Puado's 50th minute opener for Espanyol, although the point does little to ease Levante's position at the bottom of the table.
Levante were furious after what looked like a good 89th minute appeal for a penalty was turned down.
Fidel Chaves' 11th minute goal and a series of excellent saves from Edgar Badia gave Elche three points in their battle to avoid relegation at the expense of Granada, whose new coach Ruben Torecilla suffered a defeat after succeeding the sacked Robert Moreno in the dugout.
Valencia coach Jose Bordalas took his current club to face his former club Getafe and came away with a point after a 0-0 draw.
Getafe had six efforts on target in the game but the only time they got the ball past Valencia keeper Giorgi Mamadashvili, Borja Majoral's effort, was ruled out for handball.
Valencia didn't manage a shot on target despite nine minutes of injury time at the end of the game.
On Friday night, Rodrigo de Paul's 68th minute goal assured Atletico Madrid remain in the top-four after a scrappy 2-1 win at home Cadiz.
Joao Felix continued his current run of form with a third minute opener, only for Alvaro Negredo to level for Cadiz on the stroke of halftime.
Cadiz actually had possession and more shots than Atletico in the game, but paid the price for lacking confidence in the final meters. ■
Espanyol's Wu Lei reacts before a La Liga match between Levante UD and RCD Espanyol in Valencia, Spain, March 12, 2022. (Photo by Pablo Morano/Xinhua)
Espanyol's Wu Lei competes during a La Liga match between Levante UD and RCD Espanyol in Valencia, Spain, March 12, 2022. (Photo by Pablo Morano/Xinhua)
Espanyol's Tonny Vilhena (front) vies with Marc Pubill during a La Liga match between Levante UD and RCD Espanyol in Valencia, Spain, March 12, 2022. (Photo by Pablo Morano/Xinhua)
