Super strike keeps yellow team in fray

BEIJING, April 29 -- Villarreal kept the Spanish title race alive on Sunday after edging a 1-0 win away to Real Betis thanks to a breathtaking goal from midfielder Marcos Senna.

The Spain international fired the ball into the top corner from a meter inside the Betis half to earn his side a win that deprived leader Real Madrid of the chance to wrap up the title in its late match at home to Athletic Bilbao.

The victory cemented Villarreal's hold on second place in the standings and left it four points clear of Barcelona, which lost 0-2 at Deportivo Coruna on Saturday, with four games left to play.

Real can restore its 10-point advantage at the top of the table when it hosts Bilbao at the Bernabeu.

Atletico remains in fourth spot, six points behind Barca, after drawing 1-1 at Getafe, while Racing Santander lost ground in the hunt for the final Champions League place after slumping to a 1-3 defeat at Real Mallorca.

Cash-strapped Levante was relegated from the top flight when it slipped to a 0-2 defeat at Recreativo Huelva.

The game had been in doubt up until Saturday because players had threatened strike action over payments owed to them by the cash-strapped club, but it went ahead after they received guarantees they would be paid.

Real Zaragoza dropped into the drop zone after drawing 1-1 at Espanyol and is two points behind Osasuna and Recreativo.

Valencia got off to a winning start under new coach Voro and moved four points clear of the relegation zone after a 3-0 victory at home to 10-man Osasuna. Valencia earned its first points after four straight defeats under ex-boss Ronald Koeman.

(Source: Shanghai Daily/ Agencies)