Late winner for Villarreal

Jeremy Perbet headed a winner deep in stoppage-time for Villarreal to beat Levante 1-0.

Jeremy Perbet headed a winner deep in stoppage-time to beat Levante 1-0 and keep alive Villarreal's hopes of securing automatic qualification for the Europa League. The game looked to be heading for a dour goalless draw well into the 95th minute, when Perbet nodded Manuel Trigueros' right-wing cross into the bottom corner of Keylor Navas' net. The result lifted the Yellow Submarine to sixth spot in the Primera Division standings - just a point adrift of fifth-placed Sevilla, who visit Real Betis on Sunday - while Levante stayed ninth. The first half at El Madrigal was a scrappy affair, with both sides struggling to create clear-cut opportunities. Jonathan had a 12th-minute shot blocked by Levante goalkeeper Navas, while the visitors' best chance fell to Aloys Nong - who headed Papakouli Diop's free-kick over the bar from close range - in the 24th minute. Levante had another half-sight at goal just after the half-hour mark but Junior Simao's speculative long-range shot was too high to trouble Villarreal goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo. The second period was equally uninspiring, with neither goalkeeper called into any serious action until the late drama forced Navas to pick the ball out of his net. Levante's Juanfran and Villarreal's Gaspar Mario exchanged off-target efforts shortly after the restart, with the visitors also trying their luck through David Navarro and Angel Rodriguez. The latter's was the only one to test Asenjo, who made the straightforward save. Perbet had a 25-yard shot blocked by Navas 13 minutes from time, and the Levante goalkeeper was also in the right place soon after to deny Jonathan. He was powerless, however, to prevent Perbet's winner, as the French striker pounced to secure a first home win since the start of February for Marcelino's team.