BARCELONA: Levante moved to the top of the Spanish league standings for the first time ever after beating Villarreal 3-0 for its sixth consecutive win on Sunday.
The modest club, which has the smallest budget in Spain’s first division, extended its record start to move one point ahead of Real Madrid and two points ahead of defending champion Barcelona.
Forward Juanlu Gomez scored twice before halftime at El Madrigal stadium, and striker Arouna Kone added another after the restart as Levante repeatedly caught Villarreal flatfooted on the counterattack.
Defender Sergio Ballesteros cleared Giuseppe Rossi’s late shot off his goalline to ensure Levante kept a fifth clean sheet of the season.
The undefeated Levante, which two seasons ago played in the second division, had little trouble adding the lackluster Villarreal to its list of victims that includes Madrid and big-spending Malaga.
“This team continues to grow and to demonstrate that it believes in what it does, something which is key to competing at this level,” said manager Juan Ignacio Martinez, who had never coached in Spain’s first division until joining Levante this summer.
“Being leaders of a league with so many big teams is something very special,” he said. “Even so, we must keep working with our feet firmly on the ground and remember that the season is very long.”
Earlier, Roberto Soldado’s late goal salvaged a 1-1 draw for Valencia against Athletic Bilbao, while Atletico Madrid drew 1-1 with Mallorca. After an evenly matched first half with both teams hitting the post, Iker Muniain scored Bilbao’s 72nd-minute opener when he deftly dribbled across the edge of the area before shooting powerfully into the right corner of the net.
Bilbao appeared set to record its third straight league win before Soldado reached Ever Banega’s pass, beat goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz with one touch and rolled home the equalizer in the 89th for his sixth goal of the season. (Agencies)