Villarreal tighten grip on runners-up spot with 2-0 win

MADRID, May 7 (Reuters) - Villarreal tightened their grip on the runners-up spot in the Primera Liga with 2-0 win at relegation-threatened Recreativo Huelva on Wednesday.

In-form Turkish striker Nihat Kahveci put the visitors ahead early in the second half, whipping a free kick over the wall and past keeper Stefano Sorrentino to take his tally for the season to 18.

Mexico striker Guillermo Franco made it 2-0 eight minutes from time when he turned in from close range after a neat pass from Santi Cazorla.

The win put Villarreal seven points ahead of third-placed Barcelona who meet champions and arch-rivals Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in Wednesday's late match. Sevilla moved up to fifth spot level on 58 points with Atletico Madrid, who are away at Espanyol on Saturday, after an emphatic 3-0 win over Racing Santander.

At the other end of the table, Osasuna stay in the drop zone after losing 2-1 at Real Mallorca.

Real Zaragoza also remain in danger after losing 1-0 at Valencia, while Getafe eased their relegation worries after coming from two goals down to claim a 4-2 win at home to Almeria to move up to 14th place.

(Reporting by Simon Baskett, editing by Clare Lovell)