Osasuna deal blow to Villarreal's Champions League hopes

Osasuna claimed a dramatic 3-2 Primera Liga win over Villarreal on Thursday that effectively secured their future in the top flight and dealt a blow to their opponents' hopes of earning a Champions League place.

Australian striker John Aloisi grabbed a dramatic victory for King's Cup semi-finalists Osasuna when he beat the offside trap to drill home a perfect pass from Pablo Garcia two minutes from time.

The result left Osasuna 15 points clear of the relegation zone with five games left to play.

Defeat for Villarreal meant that they missed the chance to move up into the Champions League berths and instead remain in fifth place, a point behind Espanyol.

Barcelona lead the standings on 75 points, six ahead of arch-rivals Real Madrid, who are 14 ahead of third placed Sevilla.

Villarreal took the lead after just seven minutes of the game that had been held over from March 20 because it clashed with their rearranged UEFA Cup match against Steaua Bucharest.

Brazilian midfielder Marcos Senna caught keeper Juantxo Elia off guard when he let fly with a 30-metre drive after he had been given room by the Osasuna defence.

But Osasuna fought back hard and got a deserved equaliser five minutes before halftime when Cameroon striker Pierre Webo expertly controlled a Pablo Garcia cross, turned outside centre-back Gonzalo Rodriguez and fired past keeper Pepe Reina.

The home side went in front midway through the second half when substitute Juan Manuel Ortiz scored with his first touch after Reina had palmed a Webo shot into his path.

Six minutes later Villarreal looked to have earned a valuable away point when Argentine midfielder Juan Pablo Sorin got between two Osasuna defenders to launch himself at a Javi Venta free kick and clip it into the net.

But it was Osasuna who had the last word when Aloisi raced clear to drill home Garcia's pass and secure a fourth win in a row for the Navarrans.