Fabricio Fuentes headed home the only goal of the game five minutes into the second half to secure fifth spot for Villarreal, with Real Zaragoza slipping to sixth after only managing a 1-1 draw at Recreativo Huelva.

Juande Ramos' side had an outside chance of sneaking the league crown at start of play, but that was quickly extinguished by Barcelona running riot at Gimnastic Tarragona.

With third spot already in the bag, the best the hosts could have hoped for was second place and that proved not enough of an incentive to inspire victory over Villarreal.

Defender Fuentes wasted the first opportunity of note in the opening moments, heading Ruben Cani's outswinging corner over Andres Palop's crossbar from close range.

Sevilla's Jose Luis Marti responded by curling a right-footed free-kick just wide from 25 yards.

Sebastian Viera was the first goalkeeper to be called into action in the 14th minute, the Villarreal custodian catching Luis Fabiano's free-kick.

Fabiano then latched onto an Andreas Hinkel cross but could only direct his header wide of Viera's left-hand upright.

Quique Alvarez was next to go close for Sevilla, but he too could only nod wide from Marcos Senna's free-kick midway through the opening period.

Fabiano then twice fired wide from distance shortly afterwards as the hosts failed to convert their chances into goals and the first half ended goalless.

The visitors began brightly after the restart, with Jon Dahl Tomasson drilling in a left-footed effort from distance which warmed the gloves of Palop.

And in the 50th minute, Manuel Pellegrini's did make the breakthrough when Fuentes met Cani's corner with a powerful header which gave Palop no chance.

Buoyed by the opener, Villarreal looked to press home their advantage with Guillermo Franco blasting just wide from 12 yards.

Enzo Maresca did likewise for Sevilla at the other end in the 57th minute as Juande Ramos' side searched for an equaliser.

Jose Enrique Sanchez was next to have a go for Villarreal but he too was off-target in the 64th minute. Tomasson's effort shortly afterwards went over the bar.

Javier Chevanton curled in a free-kick for Sevilla midway through the second half but could only find the wall.

Sanchez fired in a shot for Villarreal in the 71st minute but again it failed to test Palop, this time too high.

Palop was forced into a decent save moments later to parry a Franco shot and keep his side only one goal down.

Another Chevanton free-kick did not find a way past the wall 12 minutes from time as Sevilla's search for a leveller continued to be fruitless.

Chevanton was again involved soon afterwards in supplying a corner for Frederic Kanoute to head over the bar.

The Uruguayan had a decent sight of goal nine minutes from the end and looked to have picked his spot, but Viera dived to keep out his shot.

Robert Pires blasted in a late shot in a bid to double Villarreal's advantage and, although it flew wide, the points were already in the bag.