By JOSEPH WILSON
BARCELONA (AP) — Alberto Moleiro added a goal and an assist to help Villarreal beat Alavés 3-1 on Saturday and stay in touch with the La Liga leaders.
Moleiro is one of the sensations of La Liga with his creativity and scoring ability. It is one of the main reasons Villarreal are in third place at mid-season, even after winger Yeremy Pino left for Crystal Palace last summer.
The 22-year-old footballer from the Canary Islands scored his eighth goal of the season to open the scoring just after the break. Moleiro fired a curved shot from outside the area and the ball went in after hitting the far post.
Veteran striker Gerard Moreno volleyed in a loose ball to double the hosts’ lead in the 55th minute.
Moleiro assisted on Georges Mikautadze’s third goal when he slipped a pass between two defenders in a small space where the Georgian forward lofted it over goalkeeper Antonio Sivera.
Alavés forward Toni Martínez softened the blow for the visitors by scoring a goal in the 85th minute
Villarreal was eight points behind leaders Barcelona and four points behind second-placed Real Madrid. They are three points ahead of fourth-placed Atlético de Madrid. García Toral’s team also has one more game in hand than the three rivals.
Barcelona, Madrid and Atlético are not playing in La Liga this week while they compete in the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia. Barcelona and Madrid meet in the final on Sunday in Jeddah.
Nice goal and ugly fight
Girona beat Osasuna 1-0 after Vladyslav Vanat used the heel of his left boot to convert a pass just before half-time.
The match was marred by a fight between the teams in injury time after Girona’s Lass Kourouma received a straight red card for using his knee in a confrontation with Osasuna’s Aimar Oroz. Osasuna players ran onto the field during the incident.
“We apologize to Osasuna,” said Girona coach Michél Sánchez.
Other results
Giovani Lo Celso headed in Antony’s cross in the 83rd minute to rescue a 1-1 draw for sixth-placed Real Betis at bottom-placed Real Oviedo.
Valencia remained in the relegation zone after drawing at home with Elche 1-1.
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