VILLARREAL, Spain – Villarreal scored twice in each half to defeat Espanyol 4-1 in LaLiga and hand the Catalan club its heaviest defeat of the season on Monday.
The result ended a bad run in which Villarreal had taken one point in the previous three games. The victory allowed them to level on points with Atlético de Madrid, third, and seven ahead of Real Betis, although Villareal has one game less in both.
Georges Mikautadze gave Villarreal the lead 10 minutes before the break when he met Tajon Buchanan’s perfectly cushioned header and fired a spectacular scissor kick towards goal.
José Salinas’ own goal six minutes later doubled Villarreal’s lead. Nicolas Pépé added the third five minutes into the second half when he fired low from outside the box after some clever footwork.
Alberto Moleiro made it 4-0 five minutes later by finishing off an incisive counterattack.
A header from Leandro Cabrera after a corner from Cyril Ngonge with two minutes left was Espanyol’s only response.
Espanyol has not won since before Christmas and has not won in six games in the League. Monday’s result marked the first time this season that they conceded four goals in a game. He remained in sixth place.
