Sporting's sweat and blood sees them to safety

The crowd gives them a boost
Almost 28,000 spectators crammed out the stands of El Molinon for a match in which R. Sporting were playing for a place in the Liga BBVA next season, and they were tirelessly cheered on since well before the kick-off. The cheers turned to a roar when the referee blew his whistle to get proceedings underway and the home fans propelled their team forward as they laid siege to the Villarreal CF goalmouth, defended by Mariano Barbosa on this occasion.

The early onslaught gets its reward
Sporting started the game playing at an extremely high tempo, pressing high up the pitch and pegging Villarreal back into their own half. The chances started to flow and Jony gave Sporting the lead from one of their first efforts on goal: a superb volley following a lightning-quick counter-attack which placed the Asturian team in a position of safety, at least temporarily. The celebrations were transformed into nerves just two minutes later, when Leo Baptistao clattered the post after going through one-on-one with Ivan Cuellar.

Good news from Seville
Sporting continued driving forward in search of a goal that would give them some breathing room, but they knew that victory for Getafe CF against R. Betis in Seville would render a win over Villarreal useless. Elation broke out in the crowd when the Andalusian outfit took the lead at the Benito Villamarin – a goal which put Sporting that much closer to remaining in the Liga BBVA.

Anxious moments
However, Villarreal were not about to give up in Gijon, and Jonathan Dos Santos created several chances with his penetrating runs down the flanks. Every wave of attack by Marcelino Garcia Toral's men generated panic amongst the home defence and their nerves started to show. Nevertheless, Alen Halilovic almost settled it for the home team with a shot from inside the box, but Victor Ruiz managed to clear off the line.

An ecstatic ending
It was a tense atmosphere as the game headed into the final minutes. A Villarreal goal would spell relegation to the Liga Adelante. However, the home crowd celebrated wildly when Sergio Alvarez's shot squeezed its way into Barbosa's net off the crossbar, giving Sporting the victory they needed to escape relegation. The Asturian outfit had not ventured outside the drop zone since Matchday 25, but they broke free when it mattered most: in the final game of the season. El Molinon will continue to entertain the Sporting faithful with Liga BBVA football next term.

FULL TIME | @RealSporting 2-0 @VillarrealCF

Sporting win and secure their Liga BBVA future.  #RSGvVIL pic.twitter.com/OqVVAVH75H

— LaLiga (@LaLigaEN) May 15, 2016