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| Nilmar's goals will be vital if Villarreal are to drag themselves to the top [EPA] |
Brazil striker Nilmar scored twice to lead Villarreal to a 3-1 home win over Real Valladolid that moved them up to 11th in the Spanish Primera Liga.
The in-form Nilmar, who scored in Brazil's friendlies against England and Oman during the international break, headed the opener after seven minutes and looped in a second header just after the re-start.
Italy's Giuseppe Rossi made it 3-0 before Diego Costa pulled one back for the visitors, but Ernesto Valverde's side continued their steady climb up the table after being rooted to the bottom last month.
Real Madrid replaced Barcelona at the top of La Liga on Saturday after Gonzalo Higuain scored in a 1-0 home win over Racing Santander, moving them on to 28 points from 11 games.
Champions Barca were held 1-1 at Athletic Bilbao and have 27 points, two ahead of third-placed Sevilla, who beat promoted Tenerife 2-1 away.
Valencia, with 21 points, can reclaim fourth place from Deportivo la Coruna with a draw or better at Osasuna in Sunday's late game.
Depor overcame Atletico Madrid 2-1 on Saturday.
Real Mallorca maintained their 100 per cent record at the Ono Estadi with a 3-1 victory over Almeria, but it needed two late strikes from Victor and Gonzalo Castro, who bagged his second of the game, to secure all three points.
Bad-tempered
In a bad-tempered game at La Rosaleda stadium Malaga drew 1-1 against Zaragoza, with both sides reduced to 10 men for most of the second half.
Ewerthon put Zaragoza ahead in the 49th with a penalty.
Zaragoza's Javier Paredes was sent off on the hour for his second yellow card offence and moments later Malaga's Weligton was expelled for punching Raul Goni.
Ivan Gonzalez rose to head in the equalizer in the 75th.
As full time approached Malaga's Antonio "Apono" Galdeano sparked a fracas between the players when he spat at Ander Herrera.
The result leaves Malaga bottom of the standings.
Swept aside
In the last match Valencia swept aside Osasuna 3-1 away with a trio of impressive goals to move back into the Champions League places in La Liga.
Spain striker David Villa set them on their way with his ninth of the campaign, acrobatically prodding home Carlos Marchena's lob over the defence in the 12th minute.
David Albelda and then Marchena both scored from outside the area with superb shots, and Osasuna, although they pulled one back through Masoud midway through the second half, finished in disarray with nine men on the pitch.
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