MADRID: Villarreal climbed to third place in La Liga on Monday with a 2-0 victory at home to rock-bottom Real Valladolid that left Unai Emery’s side two points off top spot.
Nigeria winger Samuel Chukwueze bagged his first goal of the season with a classy left-foot finish on 21 minutes and Pau Torres added a second before half-time.
Villarreal are unbeaten in seven games in all competitions since a 4-0 defeat by Barcelona on September 27.
Real Sociedad occupy first place in Spain with Real Madrid a point back in second. Atletico Madrid are another two points behind but have two games in hand on the leaders.