Surprise package Villarreal upend Atletico to climb atop La Liga table
Leo Baptistao haunted his parent club Atletico Madrid by scoring the only goal in Villarreal's 1-0 victory at El Madrigal which took Marcelino's side top of the Primera Division.
The Brazilian has not played for the Rojiblancos since September 2013 but made them regret letting him go out on loan to Villarreal by firing low into the corner after 14 minutes to earn the 1-0 win. Atletico had an opportunity to go ahead of title rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid but came unstuck against an excellent Villarreal side, and created few notable chances to equalise. They remain on 12 points while Villarreal climb to the Primera Division summit with 16 points.
Visiting boss Diego Simeone opted to start Jackson Martinez instead of Fernando Torres alongside top scorer Antoine Griezmann, but it was Villarreal's front two of Roberto Soldado and Baptistao who proved more effective. For the all-important goal, Manu Trigueros played the ball to Baptistao in the area and the Brazilian turned to play a one-two with Soldado and arrow his shot into the bottom corner.
Former Tottenham striker Soldado could have scored a goal of his own not long afterwards, but his arrowed shot was saved by Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak. The Slovenian was beaten later in the half by Samu Castillejo's header, but the former Malaga forward's attempt went just wide of the near post.
An otherwise passive Atletico created just one clear chance before the break, a long punt forward which Griezmann managed to control but could not steer past goalkeeper Alphonse Areola. Simeone made a double change at half-time by bringing on former Villarreal striker Luciano Vietto and Torres, the two players who scored the goals in the 1-1 draw here last season, while Marcelino withdrew goalscorer Baptistao for 18-year-old Matias Nahuel.
It was another substitute, Angel Correa, who had Atletico's best chance to equalise in a tight second half. The Argentinian played a one-two with Griezmann before going for goal but his shot was beat away by Areola, allowing Villarreal to claim a fifth straight win and the league leadership.
Sevilla 3, Rayo Vallecano 2
Yevhen Konoplyanka's first league goal for Sevilla earned them a 3-2 victory against Rayo Vallecano and saw Los Rojiblancos climb off the foot of the La Liga table.
Sevilla looked to be coasting to their first domestic win of the season as they led at the break courtesy of goals from Kevin Gameiro and Steven N'Zonzi, but Bebe and Javi Guerra struck to wipe out their two-goal lead. Antonio Amaya's red card gave the hosts the advantage again and substitute Konoplyanka, signed from Ukrainian club Dnipro in the summer, capitalised with four minutes remaining.
N'Zonzi, Marco Andreolli and Coke all threatened early on for Sevilla but did not trouble goalkeeper Tono Rodriguez. Gameiro opened the scoring after 23 minutes with a shot that found the bottom left-hand corner of the net and N'Zonzi doubled the lead in first-half injury time, converting from Jose Antonio Reyes' pass.
Bebe halved the deficit with a free-kick early in the second half and the former Manchester United forward went close again shortly afterwards as Rayo sensed an equalising goal. It came in the 68th minute when Guerra found the top right corner of the net with an effort from inside the penalty area.
Amaya picked up his second yellow and the visitors were forced to play the last seven minutes with 10 men. Sevilla made them pay when Konoplyanka, whose previous goals for the club had come in the UEFA Super Cup and the Champions League, curled a free-kick into the bottom corner of the net.
