Villarreal wins, Valencia and Atletico drop points

Atletico Madrid's title hopes suffered a setback when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Girona in the Wanda Metropolitan Stadium here in the La Liga clash.

Antoine Griezmann opened the scoring after an assist from Diego Costa, who had to later leave the game with a groin injury. But a hard-working Girona never let Atletico consolidate the lead and Portu poached an equalizing goal with 16 minutes remaining, reports Xinhua news agency.

Valencia wasted a chance to move second as it suffered a shock 2-1 defeat away to bottom of the table Las Palmas.

Santi Mina put Valencia ahead after just five minutes but Jonathan Viera equalized 15 minutes later and the game tilted definitively Las Palmas' way seven minutes after the break when they were awarded a penalty and Valencia defender Gabriel Paulista was sent off for protesting before Jonathan Calleri dispatched the spot kick.

Ruben Vezo was also sent off for two yellow cards in the closing minutes to leave Valencia with nine men and complete their misery.

Meanwhile Villarreal temporarily moved over Real Madrid into fourth place thanks to a routine 2-1 win at home to Levante.

Manu Trigueros opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the first half and Denis Cheryshev doubled Villarreal's lead five minutes after the break

The only good news for Levante was Roger Marti's return as a substitute after 6 months out with a knee injury and he scored his side' s consolation goal from the penalty spot with the last kick of the match.

Sevilla gave coach Vincenzo Montella his first league win with a relatively comfortable triumph 3-0 away to Espanyol.

Fran Vazquez opened the scoring with a tap in after 15 minutes, before Pablo Sarabia doubled the lead in the 34th minute following a good run and shot and with Espanyol inoperative in attack, Luis Muriel sealed the win in the last minute of the game.

--IANS

sam/mr