Villarreal took another step towards a return to the Champions League next season as they came from behind to beat Eibar 2-1 on Sunday thanks to Roberto Soldado's second-half winner.

Victory extends Villarreal's lead over Celta Vigo to eight points with just seven games remaining in the battle for fourth place.

However, Sevilla can move up to fifth and close to within six points of Villarreal with victory over Real Sociedad later on Sunday.

Eibar haven't won in seven league games to slip down to ninth after a fine start to the season, but they took a shock lead through Ander Capa midway after 22 minutes.

However, going behind kicked Villarreal into gear and they levelled when Adrian Lopez tapped home after Abel Riesgo had blocked Soldado's initial effort.

Soldado hadn't scored since February, but the former Tottenham Hotspur striker gratefully took his next chance five minutes after the break as a loose ball broke his way inside the area.

Athletic Bilbao's hopes of catching Villarreal now look forlorn as they could only manage a 1-1 draw at home to Granada to fall nine points off the top four down in seventh.

A draw moved Granada a point clear of the relegation zone.

Espanyol are now eight points clear of the drop zone as they too settled for a 1-1 draw at Malaga.