Villarreal's happy return as Rayo beat Elche
Monday, August 19, 2013
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Villarreal CF scored twice in the last seven minutes to win their Liga comeback at fellow promoted side UD Almería but Elche CF lost their first top-flight game for 24 years.
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Villarreal CF scored twice in the last seven minutes to win their Liga return at fellow promoted side UD Almería but Elche CF lost their first top-flight game for 24 years 3-0 at Rayo Vallecano de Madrid.
Almería, who came up through the play-offs, struck first as Rodri broke the deadlock on 39 minutes, set up by fellow on-loan player Suso. Another Almería debutant Sebastián Dubarbier put through an own goal after the break but Rodri struck again with 16 minutes to go. However Giovani dos Santos levelled again and with four minutes left substitute Jonathan Pereira clinched a 3-2 success for Villarreal.
Segunda División champions last season, Elche suffered defeat at Vallecano. Alberto Bueno scored either side of an Alberto Perea effort to complete the second biggest win of the opening Liga weekend after FC Barcelona's 7-0 defeat of Levante UD.
RC Celta de Vigo, who stayed up on their Liga return by a single point on the final day last season, went two up against RCD Espanyol when Alejandro López and Charles scored either side of the break for Celta. However, Víctor Sánchez pulled one back and with 15 minutes left and Theivy Bifouma made it 2-2.