Struggling Real Valladolid are halfway to a vital win, which would boost their hopes of La Liga survival, after Jesus Rueda's goal gave them the lead at home to high-flying Villarreal.

The hosts' goal came five minutes before the break after a Fausto Rossi cross was headed home by the defender and beyond the reach of Sergio Asenjo.

Earlier in the half, the Yellow Submarine had their own opportunity to take the lead when Javier Aquino's effort from the edge of the box just before the half-hour mark drifted wide of goal following a corner.

But Valladolid had chances of their own and may feel aggrieved not to have taken the lead just moments before Rueda's opener when Daniel Larsson saw his right-foot shot from outside the area trickle wide.

A win for Villarreal would boost their quest to qualify for the Champions League, having started the game just two points behind fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao.