Getafe spoil Villarreal party

Albin snatches late winner to condemn Yellow Submarine to defeat

Without suspended Italy striker Giuseppe Rossi, Villarreal lacked their usual bite in attack and substitute Juan Albin snatched the winner for Getafe in the 89th minute after their defender, Daniel Diaz, had been sent off just before halftime.

Uruguayan midfielder Albin, whose low shot squirmed just inside the post, was also dismissed as he celebrated the goal by removing his shirt and was shown a second yellow card.

Third-placed Villarreal have 30 points from 15 matches behind Real Madrid, who have 35 and leaders Barcelona with 37.

Atletico Madrid ended a run of three defeats in all competitions when a Sergio Aguero double gave them a 2-0 win at home to Deportivo La Coruna in the late kickoff.
Depor goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia saved Diego Forlan's fifth-minute penalty before Aguero, whom local media reported on Saturday had agreed a contract extension, struck twice before halftime to lift Atletico to sixth spot.

Sevilla striker Frederic Kanoute had a first-half penalty saved as the Andalusians' poor run continued when they lost 3-1 at home to lowly Almeria in the regional derby.
The Mali international pulled a goal back to make it 2-1 in the 83rd before Almeria's Pablo Piatti scored his second of the night to condemn Sevilla to a fourth straight defeat, prompting disgruntled whistling at the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium.

Villarreal and Getafe cancelled each other out in the first period at the Coliseum in Madrid before Diaz was dismissed in the 41st minute.

The referee brandished a straight red card at the Argentine defender after he cut down Villarreal's pacy Brazilian striker Nilmar in full flight.

The numerical advantage immediately lifted the visitors. Nilmar burst clear moments before the break but his low shot was well saved by Jordi Codina.

Villarreal's Spain midfielder Santi Cazorla Marcos Senna saw plenty of the ball but were unable to unlock a determined home defence and Francisco Casquero's header set up Albin to snatch the win.

Getafe climb to seventh on 23, level on points with Atletico but with a worse goal difference. Espanyol are in fourth spot on 28 points ahead of their trip to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday while fifth-placed Valencia have 24 before hosting Osasuna on Monday.
Almeria goalkeeper Diego Alves was on inspired form in Sevilla and parried Kanoute's spot kick after the referee ruled Fabian Vargas had handled.

Colombian midfielder Vargas made amends by nodding the visitors in front three minutes after halftime, although television replays suggested Renato managed to hook the ball clear before it crossed the line.

Argentine striker Piatti cut inside and lashed a superb long-range drive in off the bar in the 81st before Kanoute gave Sevilla hope two minutes later when he scored from close range.  But a miserable night for Sevilla, missing the injured Luis Fabiano and Jesus Navas, was complete when defender Alexis Ruano was shown a second yellow and Piatti grabbed Almeria's third goal moments later with a clever backheel.  After a tribute before kickoff at the Calderon to former Atletico player and coach Marcel Domingo, who died in his native France on Friday aged 86, Aguero sped on to a Jose Antonio Reyes pass and cut inside to put the home side ahead.

The Argentine's second came after he exchanged passes with midfielder Raul Garcia and beat Aranzubia with a clipped shot.