La Liga wrap: Villarreal pass up chance, Sevilla stumble again

Villarreal missed a chance to go within four points of La Liga table-toppers Barcelona, losing 1-0 to Getafe on Saturday.

Having lost just one of their last 13 league matches – that being to Barcelona – Juan Carlos Garrido’s side entered the match hoping to keep the pace with Barca and Real Madrid.

They were given a gift when Cata Diaz was sent off just before half-time, with the cards continuing to stack up as referee Jos Paradas Romero lost patience with the aggression shown by both sides.

But as the game appeared set to end a stalemate, Getafe substitute Juan Albin swooped with a late injury-time winner, sparking wild celebrations for the home side.

Albin received a second yellow card for the celebrations which followed his winner, but his nine-man side held on to claim three points and move up to seventh.

Sevilla were shock 3-1 losers to Almeria at home, putting more pressure on boss Gregorio Manzano.

Manzano arrived at Sevilla in September as a replacement for the sacked Antonio Alvarez, with his immediate brief to lift his new club up the table.

But the much-travelled manager has failed to do so, and a loss to a side who are tipped by many as relegation fodder will not please the club’s passionate support.

The match could have been so different if Mali striker Frederic Kanoute had netted a 21st-minute penalty after Fabian Vargas was penalised in the area.

But Kanoute missed and, just after half-time, Vargas made up for his misdemeanour with a goal to put Almeria in front.

Almeria – who are 18th – were in dreamland when Argentine Pablo Piatti doubled their lead on 81 minutes, though their two-goal advantage did not last long when Kanoute netted two minutes later to set up a tense finale.

But Sevilla could not find an equaliser, instead going down to 10 men when Alexis was sent off for a second yellow card. Piatti rubbed more salt into a gaping wound with his second in injury-time.

Sevilla have now lost five matches in a row in all competitions, while the victory gave Almeria their first victory in five and will ease any lingering pain from Barcelona’s thumping 8-0 victory in November.

In the day’s other match, a Sergio Aguero double fired Atletico Madrid to a 2-0 home triumph over Deportivo La Coruna.

The victors missed a chance to go in front after five minutes when Diego Forlan had his penalty well saved by Aranzubia, but Aguero’s goals after eight and 35 minutes lifted Atletico to sixth on the table.