MADRID: Alaves defeated Villarreal 2-1 to snap a three-game losing streak in La Liga on Monday.

Alaves hadn’t won in the league since March 18. The Copa del Rey finalists remain 11th in the 20-team standings.

Villarreal, coming off two consecutive victories, were trying to move within five points of fourth-placed Sevilla, who hold the final Champions League spot.

Ibai Gomez opened the scoring from the edge of the area in the 35th minute, and Rodrigo Ely added to the lead with a header in the 45th.

Cedric Bakambu pulled Villarreal closer in the 70th and had a chance to equalise in the final minute of stoppage time but couldn’t capitalise on a one-on-one situation.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2017