MADRID (AFP) - Villarreal have never won the Spanish Primera Liga but their players are happy to play the role of bridesmaids this season despite being just seven points behind champions Real Madrid.

Villarreal could have closed to within four points with victory over Sevilla but a 2-0 defeat on Sunday ended their nine-match unbeaten run and maybe any lingering title hopes.

Villarreal had not lost since the end of January - when Real beat them 3-1 - and are now separating the big two in the first division edging Barcelona, level on points after a 0-0 draw with Getafe, courtesy of their superior head-to-head record.

"We have never been title contenders," said Villarreal coach Manuel Pellegrini. "Real have a good lead on us and we have had our feet on the ground all the time.

"It is fair to say we are candidates for second spot and that is our objective."

French winger Robert Pires echoed the words of his manager saying the key was for the club to continue playing without pressure.

"We are not talking about the league here at Villarreal," said Pires. "It is normal that Madrid talk of the title as they are first and have a good lead.

"The league is not finished and we should concentrate on securing second place first and not talking about other things.

"There is no pressure here and we are enjoying our football and it should continue without us feeling the pressure."

Whatever happens Villarreal, who were 12th at this stage last season before a late push saw them finish fifth, have had a terrific season.

At the beginning of the campaign many questioned how Villarreal would fare after selling star striker Diego Forlan to Atletico Madrid for 21 million euros.

The club has been on the up for the past few years reaching the semi-finals of the 2004 UEFA Cup before their historic run to the 2006 Champions League semi-finals - when Argentine playmaker Riquelme was pulling the strings - but some felt Villarreal were on the slide.

However, Chilean coach Pellegrini has Villarreal, a small town with less than 50,000 inhabitants, competing with Spain's elite and it has not gone unnoticed with Barcelona mentioned as one of the clubs taking a close look at the highly-rated coach.

"It is true that whenever someone links your name to an important team you must be proud, but it is no reason to get distracted," said Pellegrini.