Spanish international defender Joan Capdevila scored a brace as nine-men Villarreal twice came from behind to defeat Getafe 3-2 at El Madrigal on Sunday and continue their surge up the table after the worst start in their history.
Capdevila’s international team-mate Santi Cazorla had equalised with a superb volley before Capdevila scored the winner with three minutes remaining to sink Getafe and move into mid-table as Villarreal atone for their nightmare start.
A superb first-time volley from Pedro Leon, who seems to specialise in great goals, gave Getafe a third-minute lead before Capdevila, who scores lots of goals for a left back, equalised on 17 minutes.
Minutes into the second half Cani was sent off for conceding a penalty and Villarreal goalkeeper Diego Lopez, who saved two penalties in his last league match, was helpless to stop Robert Soldado’s fierce spot-kick.
Cazorla came on for Robert Pires on 66 minutes and had an immediate impact volleying in a terrific equaliser 60 seconds later.
Capdevila then bagged the winner after great work from Joseba Llorente gave the Euro 2008 winner an easy tap-in.
Earlier on Sunday Real Mallorca continued their perfect home record cruising to a 4-1 win over Real Zaragoza for a seventh successive league victory at their fortress Ono Stadium to move them one point off the top four.
Top-scorer Aritz Aduriz netted a brace either side of the break to take his season’s tally to seven goals as Mallorca made it a perfect 21 points at home with Barcelona and Real Madrid the only other two teams with a flawless home record.
“The players are ambitious to have a good season and it is not by chance that we are up there as we are a good 13 games into the season,” said Mallorca coach Gregorio Manzano.
In other matches, strugglers Racing Santander got a morale-boosting 4-0 away win at Espanyol to move three points above the bottom two. Racing scored all four of their goals in a second half to dismay the home crowd in Barcelona.
Xerez prop up the table with Malaga second from bottom after a 1-1 draw at home to Osasuna and islanders Tenerife came from a goal down to defeat Sporting Gijon 2-1 and move away from the relegation zone into mid-table.
Valencia are six points behind Real Madrid and aim to stay in touch with their title rivals with a win at Athletic Bilbao and build confidence for next weekend’s showdown with Real in Sunday’s second late kick-off.
Saturday saw Barcelona and Real Madrid both win with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo taking the headlines.
Messi scored twice as Barca won 3-1 at Deportivo La Coruna to stay five points ahead of Real who beat Almeria 4-2 at home.
Ronaldo scored and won a decisive penalty for Real before spoiling his night by being sent off for kicking out late on and strangely didn’t celebrate team-mate Karim Benzema’s goal from his penalty miss preferring to rue his poor spot-kick.
“It is difficult when you miss a penalty not to dwell on it,” said coach Manuel Pellegrini. “It wasn’t bad sportsmanship and he (Ronaldo) doesn’t have a problem with anyone else nor is he selfish.”
