Barcelona, Spain: Mexico forward Giovani Dos Santos scored two goals and set up the opener as Villarreal rolled past Valencia 4-1 to strengthen its hold on fourth place in the Spanish league.
The home victory in the regional derby lifted the promoted Villarreal to within two points of third-place Real Madrid after it lost 2-1 at leader Barcelona on Saturday.
Also, Real Sociedad took out some of the frustration from its loss at Manchester United in the Champions League this week by beating up on last-place Almeria 3-0, while Sevilla edged 10-man Osasuna 2-1 for a third straight win in league play.
Dos Santos leads Villarreal with six goals through 10 rounds. That makes him the fourth leading scorer in Spain's first division after Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa with 10 goals and Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo with eight apiece.
"We should be very satisfied and pleased with the performance of our players," said Villarreal coach Marcelino Garcia. "We are a humble club that took it at a Valencia side fighting to be in the Champions League. Besides, we played some good football tonight."
Dos Santos crossed for striker Ikechuwku Uche to steer the ball in at the far post and get Villarreal started in the 17th minute.
Villarreal's passing game undid Valencia's pressure before Ruben "Cani" Gracia sent in another cross to the second post for Hernan Perez to head home and double the lead five minutes later.
Dos Santos hit the post and had a penalty saved by goalkeeper Vicente Guita after Jeremy Mathieu tripped Uche in the area, but he made up for his missed spot kick with a deft flick with his back to the net to score from the resulting corner kick in the 49th.
After Ricardo Costa headed in Valencia's lone goal in the 63rd, Dos Santos polished off his outstanding performance with a long left-footed strike to beat Guaita in the 84th.
Antoine Griezmann scored two headers to fuel Sociedad's attack, while left back Jose Angel set up one of those opening goals before adding a third of his own.
Griezmann jumped above his marker to nod in the hosts' first goal in the 13th before redirecting Angel's cross down and into the far corner of the net in the 50th. Angel curled in the Basque club's third goal five minutes later.
Sociedad got its first victory at Anoeta Stadium since round one, while Almeria remained the only team in the top flight yet to win a match this season and with just three of a possible 30 points.
Osasuna lost a player in the 34th at Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium when defender Damia Abella got a direct red card for pulling down Kevin Gameiro from behind with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Osasuna held Sevilla at bay until midfielder Ivan Rakitic broke through in the 55th by volleying in Stephane Mbia's lobbed pass for his team-leading fifth goal in league play this season.
Sevilla forward Jairo Samperio hit on the break in the 75th, in-between teammate Carlos Bacca's two shots off the goalframe.
Osasuna striker Oriol Riera headed in a consolation goal three minutes from time.
"Rakitic is our captain, and you noticed that both on and off the pitch," Jairo said. "He is our leader and makes everything go for us."
Later, second-place Atletico hosts Real Betis needing a win to stay within one point of Barcelona.
