Pellegrini made four changes to his starting line-up from Sunday's 2-0 win over Getafe but it was business as usual with Villarreal recording their fourth consecutive win thanks to second-half goals from Nihat Kahveci and Guille Franco.

And with Barcelona losing at champions Real Madrid later on Wednesday night, that win for Villarreal guaranteed Pellegrini's troops a top-two finish for the first time in the club's history.

"It was a risk to play with several men who did not play on Sunday knowing how tough this game would be. We took a risk and if came out well for us," said Pellegrini, whose side play Espanyol and Deportivo La Coruna in their final two matches.

"As well as that, for next Sunday's game, we will now have several players available who are rested."

Pellegrini also had words of praise for opponents Recreativo, who he believes are capable of avoiding the drop.

Recre are currently level with third-bottom Osasuna on 40 points with matches against Almeria and Real Valladolid to end the season.

Pellegrini said: "If they play how they did in the first half and know how to cope with nerves and pressure, they could stay up."