Villarreal strengthened their grip on a La Liga top-four spot with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Levante at the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia.
The hosts, struggling in 19th place, managed just one win in their last seven outings (D2, L4), and seven changes to their starting XI failed to spark a revival.
Levante began brightly, pressing Villarreal in the opening 15 minutes, but their early intent produced little danger beyond Diego Pampin’s half-chance.
The match settled into a midfield battle, with both sides struggling to generate sustained attacking pressure.
For Villarreal, Pape Gueye and Alberto Moleiro probed for openings, but Levante’s five-man low block kept them at bay.
It took until the 28th minute for Villarreal to register their first attempt, when Pau Navarro’s effort drifted wide. Moleiro came closest moments later, seeing a header crash against the post.
Just before half-time, Ayoze Perez managed Villarreal’s first shot on target, though the match remained cagey and largely subdued.
After the break, Gueye tested Levante’s defence with a long-range effort, and Levante responded through Paco Cortes, only for Luiz Junior to make a sharp save.
The home side grew louder and more aggressive, but it was Villarreal who broke the deadlock. As Levante goalkeeper Mathew Ryan strayed off his line, Georges Mikautadze pounced to slot home the opener.
Levante threw men forward in search of an equaliser, even seeing a late penalty appeal turned down after Karl Etta Eyong went down in the box.
Villarreal had opportunities to seal the game, but Mikautadze saw a clear chance blocked on the line by Adrian de la Fuente.
Levante remain deep in trouble at the bottom of La Liga, seven points from safety, with a daunting trip to title contenders Barcelona looming.
Villarreal, meanwhile, bounced back from their weekend loss to Getafe and sit seven points clear of fifth-placed Real Betis, keeping their Champions League ambitions alive.
