Havana, January 10 (RHC) – Villarreal successfully defended their third place in the Spanish football league today, after beating Alavés 3-1 on matchday 19.
After a lackluster first half, Valencia rallied thanks to Alberto Moleiro, who scored a goal and provided an assist, and Gerard Moreno.
Moleiro opened the scoring in the 49th minute, capitalizing on a poor clearance from the defense to curl the ball into the top corner of the Villarreal goal.
Shortly after (55th minute), Moreno struck again, firing home from the edge of the box after a save by goalkeeper Antonio Sivera.
Villarreal maintained their pressure with counter-attacks, searching for the decisive goal, which came in the 75th minute when a pass from Moleiro was expertly finished off by Georgian Georges Mikautadze with a chip.
The Valencian side reached 41 points and holds a three-point lead over Atlético de Madrid, who sit fourth in the standings.
Real Betis drew 1-1 against Real Oviedo and missed the opportunity to close the gap on fifth-placed Espanyol.
Betis salvaged a point with a goal from Argentinian Giovani Lo Celso in the 83rd minute, after conceding an opener to Ilyas Chaira in the 64th.
Girona, 12th in the table, defeated Osasuna (14th) 1-0 with a goal from Ukrainian Vladyslav Vanat in the 44th minute, while Valencia (18th) drew 1-1 against Elche (9th).
