Villarreal beats Valencia to seal Champions League return

Madrid - Villarreal warmed up for the second leg of its Europa League semi-final against Liverpool by sealing fourth place in La Liga with a 2-0 win at Valencia on Sunday.

The Yellow Submarine is now guaranteed at least a place in the Champions League qualifiers for the first time in four years, but could gain direct entry to the group stages should it go on to win the club's first major honour in the Europa League.

First-half goals from Samuel Garcia and Adrian Lopez - who also struck the stoppage-time winner in the 1-0 first-leg success over Liverpool - moved Villarreal six points clear of Athletic Bilbao with two games to play.

However, Marcelino's men cannot be overtaken by the Basques due to their superior head-to-head record.

Athletic leapfrogged Celta Vigo into fifth as it came from behind to beat the Galicians 2-1 earlier on Sunday.