Spanish La Liga Weekend Review
Sevilla climbed up to third in La Liga after edging Sporting Gijon in a 1-0 away win.
A well-worked goal out of almost nothing from Fredi Kanoute was enough to give Sevilla victory in a battle of two teams chasing European places.
Sporting fell to their first home defeat of the season as Kanoute teamed up with Jesus Navas to score the only goal after nine minutes.
Sporting remain down in eighth place with work to do to get back into consideration for the Europa League.
Real Mallorca claimed their first away win of the season after a goal 15 minutes into the second half by Gonzalo Castro guided Los Rojillos to a 1-0 victory over Osasuna.
Aritz Aduriz and Jose Luis Marti were influential in attack for the visitors throughout and they dealt easily with all Osasuna had to offer as they kept up their bid for European football by moving up to fifth in the table.
Mallorca moved above Deportivo la Coruna, who had to come from behind to take a 1-1 draw from their trip to Almeria.
Following a lively first half in which both sides missed good chances, Almeria went in front just short of the hour mark, through Kalu Uche.
They were unable to hold onto their lead, though, and were forced to settle for a point following Pablo Alvarez's leveller 16 minutes from time.
Substitute Joseba Llorente headed an injury-time winner as Villarreal recorded their first away win of the Primera Division season at the expense of Atletico Madrid, who are now just a point above the relegation zone.
Llorente, who had only been on the pitch 10 minutes after replacing Giuseppe Rossi, sent a diving header past Sergio Asenjo in the 91st minute to help Villarreal claim a comeback win in the battle between La Liga's two biggest underachievers so far this season.
Earlier, Atletico had taken a first-half lead through captain Simao Sabrosa but David Fuster brought Villarreal level just after half-time before Llorente's late effort helped the Yellow Submarine climb up to 10th in the standings.
Juan Albin scored twice to earn Getafe their third Primera Division win in four games, 2-1 at home to Tenerife.
The Uruguayan netted either side of half-time to put the hosts in complete control before Juanlu gave Tenerife hope late on.
Racing Santander came from behind to see off a spirited Xerez 3-2 in an entertaining encounter at El Sardinero.
Bottom club Xerez scored twice away from home for the first time this season and took the lead through Mario Bermejo after just two minutes.
But Racing hit back through Mehdi Lacen after 25 minutes and the Cantabrians took the lead shortly into the second period when Manuel Arana struck.
Xerez came back again though, when Antonito equalised halfway through the second period, only to lose out to Alex Geijo's late header eight minutes from time.
Malaga remain rooted in the relegation zone after being held to their fifth successive Primera Division draw, 1-1 against fellow strugglers Real Valladolid.
Malaga led at the break thanks to Sergio Duda's well-struck goal, but 14th-placed Valladolid earned a share of the spoils when Malaga defender Jesus Gamez inadvertently headed into his own net midway through the second half.
On Saturday, Barcelona beat Espanyol 1-0 while second-place Real Madrid beat Valencia 3-2 away. Athletic Bilbao claimed a 2-1 win at Zaragoza.
Match reports
Sunday
Almeria 1-1 Deportivo La Coruna
Atletico Madrid 1-2 Villarreal
Saturday
Real Zaragoza 1-2 Athletic Bilbao
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