BARCELONA, Spain (AP) Villarreal eased to a 3-0 win over 10-man Levante on Sunday to cement its hold on Spain's last Champions league berth.
Goals by Leo Baptistao, Samuel Castillejo and Adrian Lopez gave Villarreal a 3-0 lead before halftime at its El Madrigal Stadium before Levante's David Navarro saw a second yellow card early in the second half.
Fourth-place Villarreal, which eliminated Napoli from the Europa League on Thursday, protected its 11-point lead over fifth-place Celta Vigo. It also closed to within two points of Real Madrid after it lost 1-0 to second-place Atletico Madrid on Saturday.
The loss left Levante in the relegation zone.
Leader Barcelona hosts Sevilla later on Sunday, after Athletic Bilbao visits Valencia and Granada plays at Deportivo La Coruna.
