Villarreal beats Mallorca 2-0 in Spanish league

BARCELONA, Spain (AP)—Villarreal scored in each half to beat Mallorca 2-0 on Tuesday for its first victory of the Spanish league season.

Giuseppe Rossi scored Villarreal’s opener at El Madrigal stadium when he slotted under goalkeeper Dudu Aouate in the eighth minute.

Mallorca struggled to finish off its scoring opportunities, and Nilmar added Villarreal’s second in the 52nd when he received Borja Valero’s perfectly placed pass, rounded Aouate in one touch and rolled the ball home.

Previously, Villarreal had only earned one point from a possible nine and been held scoreless in three of its last four games, including its loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

“While it is true that sometimes a victory can help a team change and find its winning form, this win was just one step,” Villarreal coach Juan Carlos Garrido said. “It was an important win, but we need to continue growing and improving with many more games ahead.”

Mallorca has lost three straight games and only scored one goal this season. That goal was netted by now Villarreal midfielder Jonathan de Guzman, who faced his old team for the first time since transferring to the “Yellow Submarine” barely three weeks ago.

Also, Sevilla drew 0-0 at Osasuna, and Real Sociedad edged Granada 1-0.

Valencia hosts defending champion Barcelona on Wednesday while Real Madrid tries to rebound from its loss at Levante when it visits the winless Racing Santander.

Anxious to improve after Saturday’s 8-0 drubbing by Barcelona, Osasuna created more chances in the early stages in Pamplona with only some good goalkeeping by Sevilla’s Javi Varas keeping the hosts from scoring.

After Sevilla responded through the pace of Spain winger Jesus Navas, Osasuna regained control of the game toward the end. But Varas stepped up again in the 64th to block Juan “Nino” Martinez’s shot from inside in the area, and Belgian forward Roland Lamah sent his volley into the side netting in the 88th.

“We have got two draws away from home at grounds that are not at all easy ones,” said coach Marcelino Garcia, whose Sevilla is one point behind league leaders Valencia and Real Betis. “Eight points is a good haul and at this pace we will achieve our objectives.”

Elsewhere, right back Daniel Estrada’s second-half goal earned Real Sociedad its second victory of the season.

After an evenly matched first half at Anoeta stadium, Estrada caught Granada goalkeeper Roberto Fernandez slightly off his line in the 64th with an excellent shot from outside the area.

Granada’s Allan Nyom had a great opportunity to snatch a draw, but the defender shot over from point-blank range in the last minute of injury time.

Also on Wednesday, Atletico Madrid hosts Sporting Gijon, and Athletic Bilbao is at Malaga.

The newly promoted Betis tries to maintain its perfect record against Zaragoza on Thursday after Getafe hosts Espanyol.