Villarreal strengthened their grip on a top-four place in LaLiga as they cruised to a 4-1 win over Espanyol, moving seven points clear of fifth and ending a six-game winless run in emphatic fashion. The defeat leaves Espanyol without a victory in six league matches of their own.

Having suffered three straight league losses before kick-off and exited both the Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League in recent weeks, Villarreal’s momentum had stalled. However, with their focus now solely on domestic matters, El Submarino Amarillo delivered a timely response that keeps them firmly in the hunt for Champions League qualification, just shy of Atletico Madrid in third.

The hosts set the tone early, showing far greater intent in attack. Tajon Buchanan and Georges Mikautadze both tested their luck inside the opening 10 minutes, firing over the crossbar as Villarreal pressed forward.

Espanyol, enduring an even tougher spell of form, struggled to offer much resistance. Tyrhys Dolan’s speculative effort was their only attempt of note before the break, as Villarreal controlled proceedings without needing to overextend themselves.

The breakthrough arrived shortly after the half-hour mark in spectacular fashion. Mikautadze produced a moment of quality, acrobatically volleying Buchanan’s cushioned header into the top corner to give the hosts a deserved lead.

Villarreal doubled their advantage before the interval, aided by a slice of misfortune for the visitors as Jose Salinas inadvertently turned Alberto Moleiro’s low delivery into his own net.

With a two-goal cushion, Villarreal played with increased freedom after the restart and quickly put the result beyond doubt. Nicolas Pepe made it 3-0 within five minutes, gliding past Clemens Riedel before slotting calmly into the corner. Soon after, Moleiro got in on the act himself, cutting inside and curling a precise effort beyond Marko Dmitrovic.

That quick-fire double effectively ended the contest, allowing Villarreal to manage the remainder of the match comfortably. Espanyol did grab a late consolation when Leandro Cabrera headed home from a corner, but it did little to alter the outcome.

The victory marks Villarreal’s seventh consecutive win over Espanyol — their longest such streak against any opponent in the Spanish top flight. For Los Periquitos, the situation looks increasingly bleak, as they now sit 11 points off the top four and risk slipping out of the European picture unless their form improves soon.