Sporting de Gijon 2 - 0 Villarreal: Sporting Gijon win clinches Primera Division survival

Sporting Gijon clinched Primera Division survival by beating Villarreal 2-0 in front of their raucous home supporters.

Midfielder Jony Rodriguez gave Abelardo Fernandez's side the lead against a depleted Villarreal side in the seventh minute with a fine volley, and Sergio Alvarez ensured their top-flight status a year after promotion with a 25-yard strike 11 minutes from time.

Sporting's destiny was out of their hands going into the final day of the season but Getafe's 2-1 defeat at Real Betis meant they took the final place outside the drop zone, finishing 17th on 39 points.

Sporting have been shackled by financial problems prohibiting them from signing players on permanent contracts, but Abelardo's side have showed character throughout the campaign, from drawing with Real Madrid on the opening day of the season to beating title challengers Atletico Madrid 2-1 in March and winning at Valencia.

They had the advantage of playing at their packed Molinon stadium against a Villarreal side who had already sealed fourth place and qualified for next season's Champions League and were without many first-team regulars.

Villarreal coach Marcelino began his playing career at Sporting and also coached the team, and controversially remarked last week that he wanted the Asturian side to stay up.

The home side got off to the perfect start when Jony volleyed Carlos Carmona's cross into the near corner and they never looked back.

Striker Antonio Sanabria and midfielder Alen Halilovic each missed chances to double their lead after the break while Villarreal offered little at the other end, and Alvarez guaranteed Sporting's safety with a drilled first-time effort from outside the box.