Villarreal secure third for Christmas break

Villarreal maintained their impressive unbeaten home record with a 3-1 win over Real Mallorca at El Madrigal on Saturday to secure third place in the Spanish first division for the Christmas break.

Villarreal made it 23 points from a possible 25 at home and Juan Carlos Garrido’s side move five points clear of fourth-placed Espanyol who host local rivals Barcelona later on Saturday.

Spanish international winger Santi Cazorla struck on 11 minutes only for Jonathan de Guzman to equalise in the 27th minute. However, the hosts quickly restored their lead through a Giuseppe Rossi penalty on 35 minutes.

Brazilian international forward Nilmar went into double figures with his tenth league goal of the season on 51 minutes as Villarreal recorded their tenth league win of the campaign.

In other matches, Athletic Bilbao moved up to sixth with Spanish international Javi Martinez scoring a 73rd minute winner in a 2-1 victory at promoted Levante on Saturday.

Elsewhere struggling Sporting Gijon salvaged a point with Diego Castro scoring an 89th minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday.

Sporting will be happy with the point having not won in the league since mid-October and stay second from bottom of the table.

Champions Barcelona travel to local rivals Espanyol, riding high in fourth, later on Saturday aiming for a tenth successive league win.

Leaders Barcelona, two points above Real Madrid, know a win over Espanyol at the Cornella-El Prat stadium will keep them top of the table for Christmas as they bid for a third successive league title.

Espanyol have a flawless seven wins at home and Barcelona captain Carles Puyol expects a tough derby duel.

“Espanyol are strong at home and for me this is the most complicated game of the season up to now,” said Puyol.

Real Madrid are in action on Sunday when they host Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Real have won all seven of their home matches in the league while Sevilla’s confidence is rock bottom after four successive league defeats.

There has been talk this week of rifts in the Real dressing room, with goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas said to have been at loggerheads with Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo.

“There are people that want to create controversy or a bad atmosphere in the dressing room when the opposite is true,” explained Casillas. “Cristiano (Ronaldo) and I get on well and there are no cliques or groups in the dressing room.”

Valencia, paired with German club Schalke 04 in the last 16 of the Champions League, travel to promoted Real Sociedad later on Saturday aiming to improve on their fifth position.

Valencia coach Unai Emery banned his players from talking in the press this week to avoid distractions after surrendering a two-goal lead in a 3-3 draw with Osasuna on Monday.

“We want to do our talking on the pitch,” said Emery. “The fans like to hear from the players but what they want more is the team to win.”