On-form David Villa’s hot scoring streak continued as the Spanish forward notched two goals in Valencia’s 4-2 win over Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday to fire Unai Emrey’s men top of La Liga.
Valencia, league champions in 2002 and 2004, knocked Villarreal off the summit on goal difference as they continued their unbeaten start to the season.
Despite following behind early on after Emiliano Moretti put through his own net in 11 minutes, Valencia rallied and goals from Juan Mata and Villa had them ahead early into the second half.
Winger Joaquin added a third, before Villa took his tally to the season to 6 goals in 5 games, showing why Real Madrid made him their number one transfer target this summer.
Portuguese side CS Maritimo are Valencia’s next opponents on Thursday in the UEFA Cup with the Spaniards holding a 1-0 advantage from the first leg.
While Emery has had a great start to life with Valencia – four wins and a draw in his first five matches – Racing Santander’s new manager Juan Ramon Muniz is finding it tough going.
Racing lost 2-1 at home to Real Mallorca, leaving them inside the relegation zone and still searching for their first victory of the season.
“We lost because of the mistakes we made not because of one by the referee,” raged Muniz.
Cameroon striker Pierre Webo struck four minutes from time to sink Racing who had initially taken the lead through Ivan Marcano before Fernando Varela equalised for the visitors.
La Liga new boys Malaga picked up their first win of the season, beating Valladolid 2-1, Adrian Lopez scoring the winner on 54 minutes.
Almeria moved up to 5th in the table after a goal five minutes into stoppage time was enough to see off nine-man Recreativo Huelva.
Elsewhere Almeria temporarily went up to fifth in the standings with Argentine Alvaro Negredo scoring the winning goal five minutes into stoppage time to down nine-men Recreativo Huelva.
Draw specialists Osasuna were at it again with a 0-0 stalemate against promoted Numancia on Sunday – their fourth draw in five games.
