Luciano Vietto scored twice as Villarreal claimed a 3-0 win over Primera Division strugglers Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday to keep the top four in their sights.
Jonathan dos Santos opened the scoring for the Yellow Submarine in the 10th minute before a second-half double from Vietto sealed the win.
Villarreal finished the game with 10 men after Tomas Pina was sent off in the 80th minute for a professional foul on Depor midfielder Alex Bergantinos, but it did not affect the result.
The win moved Villarreal fifth and above Sevilla on goal difference, while Depor remained in 17th place, although that could change if third-bottom Granada get a result at home to Getafe in one of the later kick-offs.
Villarreal got off to a perfect start thanks to the early goal by Dos Santos, who prodded the ball past Depor goalkeeper Fabricio after he parried Denis Cheryshev's 20-yard strike.
Vietto then tried his luck with two shots from just outside the penalty box, with Fabricio saving one before the second flew over the bar as the hosts looked to press home their advantage.
Bruno Soriano force a save from Fabricio with a header from Manuel Trigueros' 29th minute corner as Villarreal took a 1-0 lead into the break.
Fabricio turned Giovani dos Santos' strike around the post early in the second half as the hosts maintained the pressure before saving another shot from distance by Vietto.
Villarreal keeper Sergio Asenjo was finally called into action in the 66th minute to deny Depor defender Sidnei's shot.
Vietto finally found the back of the net soon after, though, when he turned in Victor Ruiz's cross from close range.
The 21-year-old added his second four minutes later from a similar range to put Villarreal out of sight.
Pina was sent off 10 minutes from the end after bringing down Bergantinos but by then it was too late for Depor to change the course of the match.