Villarreal go second after 2-0 win over Valladolid

MADRID (Reuters) - Villarreal climbed above Barcelona into second in the Primera Liga with a 2-0 win over struggling Real Valladolid at the Madrigal on Sunday.

Turkish striker Nihat Kahveci sprinted onto Santi Cazorla's pass to open the scoring against the run of play in the first half and returned the favour for Cazorla to add the second just after the break.

Manuel Pellegrini's side moved on to 62 points, one ahead of Barca, who were held 0-0 at home by city rivals Espanyol on Saturday.

Leaders Real Madrid, with 69 points, can open a 10-point lead if they beat Racing Santander away later on Sunday.

Fourth-placed Atletico Madrid slipped to a 3-1 home defeat against Real Betis on Saturday.

At the foot of the table, new Levante coach Jose Angel Moreno got off to a winning start with a 3-1 home win over King's Cup finalists Getafe, but his team remain 12 points from safety with five games left.

A Daniel Guiza hat-trick helped condemn second-bottom Real Murcia to a 4-1 home defeat against Real Mallorca that leaves them eight points adrift.

Recreativo Huelva are 18th, level on 37 points with 17th-placed Real Zaragoza, who have the edge over them in head-to-heads after Saturday's 3-0 home win.