Villarreal, Espanyol stay in hunt

Nilmar struck the only goal as Villarreal beat Sevilla 1-0 at the El Madrigal, maintaining their unbeaten home record this season and putting them third with 30 points from 14 matches.
Espanyol are two points behind in fourth after surviving the 52nd minute sending-off of midfielder Raul Baena to beat Sporting Gijon 1-0.

Luis Garcia struck the winner in the 70th minute to maintain the Barcelona-based club's 100 percent record at Cornella-El Prat.

Champions Barcelona are top with 37 points after their 3-0 victory at Osasuna on Saturday, when Real Madrid stayed second with 35 following their 2-0 home victory over Valencia.
Villarreal's neat passing game carved open struggling Sevilla after 30 minutes, when Italy striker Giuseppe Rossi picked out Nilmar's run and the Brazilian rounded Andres Palop to score.