Jan 20 (Reuters) - Villarreal remained in the relegation zone after drawing 1-1 at home to fellow strugglers Athletic Bilbao on Sunday but were fortunate to escape with a point after the Basque side were denied what looked to be a legitimate goal late in the game.
An own goal from Jaume Costa put Athletic ahead in the 18th minute in a meeting between two heavyweights of Spanish football who have fallen on hard times this campaign and changed managers in a bid to steer clear of the drop zone.
Cameroonian forward Karl Toko Ekambi slid in to score from close range to pull Villarreal level in the 71st minute, but confusion reigned when Inaki Williams tapped in what looked to be the winning goal in the 87th.