Giuseppe Rossi’s 16th league goal of the season helped Villarreal beat Zaragoza 1-0 on Monday to strengthen the club’s hold on fourth place in the Spanish league. Rossi goal, from the penalty box, came in the 71st after Zaragoza midfielder Ponzio Leonardo had pulled down Rossi in the area.
Villarreal’s first win in three weeks boosted its chances of securing Spain’s last Champions League spot and kept it within striking distance of Valencia, six points ahead in third place.
Good goalkeeping saved several chances from both sides early on. Zaragoza keeper Antonio Doblas stopped Rossi twice in the first half, while Villarreal’s Diego Lopez denied striker Ikechuwku Uche once in each half before Rossi put the hosts ahead for good.
Zaragoza’s fourth straight away loss left them in the relegation zone in 18th place, behind Malaga on their head-to-head record.