MADRID: Villarreal moved into second place in the Spanish league thanks to a 2-0 victory over Atletico Madrid Sunday. Ruben “Cani” Garcia put Villarreal ahead after nine minutes as he poked Nilmar's slick pass into the area past goalkeeper David De Gea to finish a quick counterattack. Giuseppe Rossi's impressive individual effort inside the area ended with the Italy striker tucking a shot inside the near post past De Gea to double the lead in the 52nd against a frustrated Atletico team. Coach Quique Sanchez Flores was sent from the touchline during halftime for protesting a penalty appeal in the first half's final moments, when Sergio Aguero was tripped up inside the area while chasing the rebound from Diego Godin's shot. Nilmar and Rossi harassed Atletico's goal to the close and De Gea stopped the Brazil striker after he stole the ball for a one-on-one inside the area. Atletico, which also had an early penalty appeal waved away, could not find its rhythm even after Diego Forlan's 58th-minute entrance as the Uruguay striker surprisingly started on the bench. Villarreal leads Barcelona on goal difference with the two clubs tied on 19 points to trail leader Real Madrid by one point. Luis Fabiano ended a two-month scoring drought with two goals Sunday as Sevilla beat Athletic Bilbao 4-3 in a match marked by a dramatic last half hour. Fabiano controlled Frederic Kanoute's failed effort to score in the 35th minute for his first goal since August. The Brazil striker then earned a 45th-minute penalty that Kanoute converted to deflate the Basque visitors, before racing past Athletic's defense to reach Ndri Romaric's long ball in the 62nd and tap a looping shot over goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz for 3-0. But Athletic was given life by Fernando Navarro's sending off in the 64th as Fernando Llorente headed Markel Susaeta's cross into the bottom corner before scoring from the rebound of his own saved penalty for his sixth goal of the season. “The game got crazy with the sending off,” Sevilla coach Gregorio Manzano said. “But we were better than Athletic.” The frantic close saw Kanoute step up for another penalty score in the 80th before Igor Gabilondo headed home Athletic's third deep into injury time. Earlier, Iran internationals Javad Nekounam and Masoud Soleimani each scored to lead Osasuna out of the relegation places with a 3-0 victory over Malaga. Nekounam converted a third-minute penalty before Soleimani capped a good buildup with a thunderous volley in the 37th. Carlos Aranda scored the in the 53rd for Osasuna to move up the standings. Also, Espanyol stayed perfect at home and continued its good start to the season with a 2-1 win over Levante while Getafe beat Sporting Gijon 3-0. Almeria's goalscoring woes continued in a 1-1 draw against Hercules. Lazio consolidates lead Surprise Serie A leader Lazio recorded its fourth straight win with a tense 2-1 home victory over Cagliari Sunday. Sergio Floccari's first-half goal and a fortunate second from Stefano Mauri after the break helped the Rome side to 19 points, four ahead of Inter Milan, which drew 1-1 with Sampdoria. Alessandro Matri pulled one back for Cagliari to set up a nervous finish but Lazio made sure they hung on to top spot for another week. Juventus was held to a 0-0 draw at Bologna where Vincenzo Iaquinta had a highly dubious penalty saved while AS Roma also managed a goalless stalemate at Parma. Other results: Chievo Verona 2 Cesena 1; Genoa 1 Catania 0; Lecce 2 Brescia 1; Parma 0 AS Roma 0; Udinese 2 Palermo 1.
