Villarreal edge Espanyol to improve Champions League chances

Villarreal moved into fifth in La Liga on Sunday with a 1-0 win over Espanyol, boosting their chances of Champions League qualification.

Yeremy Pino's 52nd-minute goal put them a point above Real Betis, sixth, with the top five in Spain this season reaching Europe's premier competition.

Marcelino Garcia Toral's side held off an Espanyol side, 13th and in good form, in the final stages of a match which had been postponed in March because of a heavy rain alert.

It was only Villarreal's second win in their last five league games and a confidence boost ahead of the final five matches.