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MADRID: Javi Camunas grabbed the winner to give Villarreal a 2-1 win at Sevilla on Sunday that keeps his side out of the relegation zone at the bottom of La Liga.
Sevilla have now gone seven games without a win and they remain in the bottom half of the table only four points above the drop zone with pressure mounting on coach Marcelino Garcia.
Both clubs have under achieved this season and find themselves further down the league than they would expect but they served up an exciting encounter full of attacking football.
Former Real Madrid and West Brom midfielder Borja Valero opened for Villarreal on 22 minutes when he met an Angel Lopez cross in the area and left footed volley to guide the ball home.
Sevilla were quick to react and when Jesus Navas hit a low cross into the area 12 minutes later, all defender Bruno Soriano could do was turn the ball into his own net for the equaliser.
In the second half the match switched from end to end with both teams failing to take chances to go ahead.
Argentine centre-half Mateo Musscahio hit the post for Villarreal on the hour mark after a penetrating run from Cani and Alvaro Negredo had a close range header well saved by Diego Lopez in the Villarreal goal on 71 minutes.
A Navas shot on 78 minutes brought another save from Lopez before Camunas hit the winner three minutes later that keeps his side one point above the drop zone.
Earlier on Sunday Sporting Gijon could only draw 1-1 at home to Osasuna, a result that leaves them second from bottom and three points from safety.
Carmelo Gonzalez put Sporting ahead in the first-half but a cushioned header by Dejan Lekic, perfectly meeting a Marc Beltran cross on 77 minutes, earned the visitors a draw.
The result means Osasuna drop to ninth position, but with 28 points they are only four behind fourth placed Levante and a potential Champions League position next season.
On Saturday Real Madrid won 1-0 away at Getafe with a Sergio Ramos header to stay seven points above Barcelona who also won 2-1 at home to Real Soceidad thanks to goals from Cristian Tello and Lionel Messi.
