Atletico edge Deportivo

Atletico Madrid held on to claim three points in the 1-0 victory over Deportivo La Coruna courtesy of a second half Julian Alvarez strike at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.

The visitors began brightly, with Miguel Loureiro forcing an early save from Jan Oblak, who made more saves at the hour mark while Atletico failed to hit the target in the first half.

Atleti manager Diego Simeone made a double change at the break and were soon in the lead after Julian Alvarez latched onto an Alex Grimaldo pass to clinically slot into the net.

Deportivo put intense pressure on the home sides backline in the late stages of the match, forcing the home side to commit fouls which led to three yellow cards but could not find an equalizer.

"To be honest, it was a tough, difficult match," said head coach Simeone after the match.

"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 beat Valencia in chaotic clash

Villarreal secured a dramatic late 2-1 victory over Valencia at the Mestalla in a match that saw both sides reduced to ten men.

The home side controlled the early stages of the match, with few clear chances created on both sides before early substitute Daniel Raba won a penalty after being fouled by Renato Veiga that was duly converted by Pepelu in the 38th minute.

Villarreal manager Inigo Perez made an inspired triple substitution just after the hour mark and was immediately rewarded with an equalizer in the 69th minute following an Alex Freeman header.

Ten minutes later, the visitors were reduced to ten men after Pape Gueye received a straight red for an elbow on Jose Gaya before Harvey Elliot was also sent off for Valencia after collecting a second yellow card.

The Yellow Submarine snatched the points with the final move of the match with Georges Mikautadze finishing off a counter attack in the 96th minute.

Elche grab important win over Rayo

Elche defeated Rayo Vallecano 3-0 away at the Vallecas Stadium to move out of the drop zone and up to 14th position on the table.

Two visitors took a 2-0 lead heading into the first half break courtesy of two penalties that were converted by Federico Redondo and Fernando Nino with Rayo's Pathe Ciss failing to score from the spot in injury time.

The visitors continued threatening to score in the second half and eventually grabbed a third goal through German Valera's left footed strike in the 68th minute.

Elsewhere, Racing Santander claimed a 2-1 victory over Espanyol in a tense encounter at the El Sardinero on Saturday.

Edu Exposito broke the deadlock for the visitors in the 62nd minute but Racing equalized seven minutes later through Jeanuel Belocian with a long-range strike.

Yassir Zabiri capitalized on a defensive lapse as the home side failed to clear a ball in the box in the 84th minute to prod home from close range.

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