Unbeaten Villarreal stay on Barca´s heels

Villarreal continued their impressive unbeaten start to the season, moving a point behind league leaders Barcelona with a 2-1 victory over Almeria on Sunday.

Villarreal took an early stranglehold on the match scoring twice in the opening quarter of an hour with Giuseppe Rossi scoring in the first minute before Jose Llorente registered his fifth of the season after 15 minutes.

Almeria pulled a goal back but Villarreal held on for their seventh win of the campaign.

Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini has worked wonders at El Madrigal with Villarreal now considered serious title contenders and the club are keen to tie him down to a longer contract.

“We faced a really good team that were better than us in the second half,” admitted Pellegrini. “The good thing is that we kept up our concentration levels to clinch the victory.”

Barcelona lead the standings by a point after lighting up Camp Nou on Saturday, crushing Valladolid 6-0 with Samuel Eto'o scoring four goals in a dazzling display.

“We are not the perfect team and haven't won anything yet,” warned Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.

Champions Real Madrid fall to third following Villarreal's win but are two points behind Barca after Argentine Gonzalo Higuain scored four goals in a 4-3 win over Malaga on Saturday.

Atletico Madrid, who drew 1-1 with Liverpool in their midweek Champions League outing, were frustrated by struggling Osasuna in a 0-0 draw that leaves them six points off the top four.

It could have been worse for Atletico had French goalkeeper Gregory Coupet not saved Javier Portillo's 19th minute spot-kick for Osasuna, who have still not won this season.

Atletico coach Javier Aguirre was accused of lacking ambition in the post match press conference which irked the Mexican who replied: “That is your (the press) point of view. I have mine and we never agree.

“This point is no good for us and we have to try and win two or three matches on the spin to get involved with the teams at the top.”

Racing Santander's in-form marksman Mohamed Tchite, who scored a hat-trick against Valencia last weekend, was on target again as his side ended Sporting Gijon's run of five straight league wins with a 1-0 triumph.

Valencia, five points behind Barcelona, travel to Getafe late on Sunday looking to close the gap on the pacesetters.

The match is a repeat of last season's Kings Cup final – which Valencia won 3-1 – so Getafe will be out for revenge.

“We have to do some damage going forward because we know that when they don't have possession they can cause danger because of the quality of David Villa,” said Getafe striker Robert Soldado.

Sevilla, eight points off the leaders, are also in action later on Sunday at home to Recreativo Huelva.

Standard Liege defeated Sevilla 1-0 in their midweek UEFA Cup tie and Brazilian forward Luis Fabiano has accused coach Manolo Jimenez of being too conservative with a lone striker.

“It is very difficult being so isolated alone up front and the problem is we are not creating chances,” explained Fabiano.