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La Liga: Sevilla close gap on Villarreal with win

Fernando Llorente celebrates his second goal
Image: Sevilla closed the gap on Villarreal to five points

A stunning long range goal from Yevhen Konoplyanka inspired Sevilla to a 4-2 home win over Villarreal in La Liga on Sunday and kept up their hopes of taking Spain's fourth Champions League spot.

The Ukraine international's 30-yard strike restored Sevilla's lead on 65 minutes after Cedric Bakambu's double had given Villarreal a 2-1 lead before half-time and a Victor Ruiz own goal in the 51st minute that made it 2-2.

Substitute Jose Antonio Reyes finished off a quick-counter attack for Sevilla's fourth goal in injury time, despite the hosts playing the last 10 minutes with 10 men after Ever Banega was sent off for a second yellow card.

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Check out Sevilla's third goal in their 4-2 win over Villarreal

Konoplyanka's afternoon also turned sour as he was forced off with a suspected muscle injury and could miss the second leg of Sevilla's Europa League round of 16 tie with Basel on Thursday after a goalless first leg.

Sevilla are now fifth, five points adrift of fourth-placed Villarreal.

Athletic Bilbao moved up to sixth on Sunday with a 3-1 win over Real Betis thanks to a double from Sabin Merino.

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Merino's goals came either side of Mikel Rico's strike, while Ruben Castro got a consolation for the visitors.

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