Atletico Madrid make it eight wins in a row as Villarreal snatch late victory

Atletico Madrid extended their winning run in La Liga to eight matches with a 1-0 victory over Deportivo La Coruna, while Villarreal scored in the 96th minute to beat Valencia 2-1 in a dramatic Saturday of action.

Alvarez settles tight contest

Atletico needed a second-half goal from Julian Alvarez to overcome Deportivo at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.

The visitors made the brighter start, with Miguel Loureiro testing Jan Oblak early on. The Atletico goalkeeper was called upon again around the hour mark, while Diego Simeone’s side failed to register a shot on target during the opening 45 minutes.

Simeone responded by making two substitutions at half-time, and Atletico soon moved ahead. Alex Grimaldo supplied the pass for Alvarez, who finished clinically to give the hosts the lead.

Deportivo applied sustained pressure in the closing stages and forced Atletico into a series of challenges, which brought three yellow cards for the home side. However, the visitors could not find an equaliser.

“To be honest, it was a tough, difficult match,” Simeone said afterwards.

“In the first half we struggled to get into the game; we couldn’t regain possession. When the team had the ball, we couldn’t play the sort of game we’d envisioned, and we went into the break feeling uncomfortable with the way we were performing.

“We made a couple of changes. I think the changes improved us; they gave us more strength and energy to press a bit higher up the pitch, to create the sort of game we wanted to create – which was to create chances to score.”

Villarreal win chaotic Mestalla clash

Villarreal came from behind to beat Valencia 2-1 at Mestalla in a match that ended with both teams down to 10 players.

Valencia controlled much of the opening period, although neither side created many clear opportunities. Daniel Raba, who had come on as an early substitute, won a penalty after being fouled by Renato Veiga, and Pepelu converted from the spot in the 38th minute.

Villarreal manager Inigo Perez made a triple substitution shortly after the hour mark. The changes had an immediate impact, with Alex Freeman heading the equaliser in the 69th minute.

The visitors were reduced to 10 men 10 minutes later when Pape Gueye was shown a straight red card for elbowing Jose Gaya. Valencia were also down to 10 after Harvey Elliott received a second yellow card.

Villarreal then produced the decisive moment with the final move of the match. Georges Mikautadze completed a counter-attack in the 96th minute to secure the points.

Elche move clear of relegation zone

Elche beat Rayo Vallecano 3-0 at the Vallecas Stadium to climb out of the relegation zone and move into 14th place.

Two penalties put the visitors 2-0 ahead before half-time, with Federico Redondo and Fernando Nino converting from the spot. Rayo’s Pathe Ciss missed a penalty in injury time at the end of the first half.

Elche continued to threaten after the break and added a third goal in the 68th minute when German Valera struck with his left foot.

At El Sardinero, Racing Santander beat Espanyol 2-1. Edu Exposito gave the visitors the lead in the 62nd minute, but Jeanuel Belocian levelled seven minutes later with a long-range effort.

Racing completed the comeback in the 84th minute when Yassir Zabiri took advantage of a defensive mistake and scored from close range.