Madrid, Jan 28 (IANS): Villarreal maintained the pressure on Real Madrid in the battle for fourth place in the La Liga as they eased past Real Sociedad to beat the Basque football club 4-2 in Vila-real.

Goals from Victor Ruiz, Pablo Fornals and Carlos Bacca put the home side 3-0 ahead after just 20 minutes at the Estadio de la Ceramica on Saturday night, reports Xinhua news agency.

Although Diego Llorente pulled one back for the visitors four minutes later, Samu Castillejo scored a fine goal to put 4-1 on the scoreboard before halftime.

Willian Jose scored another goal for the visitors before the end, but Real Sociedad chief coach Eusebio Sacristan is now in real danger of losing his job after a dreadful run of results which have left them in the 15th spot with 23 points from 21 games.

Villarreal have 37 points -- one less than Real Madrid though the former had played one more match than the capital giants. Villarreal now have taken a five-point lead over sixth-placed Sevilla.

Meanwhile, bottom-placed Malaga continue without a win under Jose Gonzalez as coach, following a goalless draw against Girona, reports Efe.

Jose Gonzalez debuted at La Rosaleda Stadium with just one change in the lineup from the 11 that played a 1-1 draw with Eibar, forward Borja Baston standing in for the big scorer of the team, the Moroccan En-Nesyri.

For Girona, on the other hand, their top striker (10 goals), Uruguay's Stuani, returned to the first team lineup.

Malaga's most threatening play came at the 26th minute with a dangerous header at goal by Keko off a shot to the centre from Uruguayan midfielder Chory Castro, but goalkeeper Bono made a spectacular save.

The Catalan squad came out in the second half more fired up and decided to go on the attack against a Malaga that notably lowered the pressure compared with the first half.

But throughout the match, defence was everything, and it ended in a 0-0 tie.