Madrid: Celta Vigo joined Real Madrid and Barcelona at the top of La Liga when Nolito's late strike snatched a 2-1 victory at 10-man Villarreal, while Atletico Madrid stayed firmly in the hunt thanks to a 2-0 success at Real Sociedad on Sunday.
Surprise package Celta, who hammered champions Barca 4-1 at the end of September, again impressed with some sparkling play at the Madrigal to prevent Villarreal climbing back into first place above Spain's big two.
Former Sociedad forward Antoine Griezmann netted a superb goal for Atletico to set them on their way at the Anoeta in San Sebastian, where the home side had two players sent off in the final stages.
Real, who thumped Levante 3-0 at the Bernabeu on Saturday when Cristiano Ronaldo set a club scoring record, are top on goal difference after eight matches, with Celta second and champions Barca third, with all three on 18 points.
Barca's Brazil forward Neymar netted four goals and created one for Luis Suarez in Saturday's 5-2 success at home to Rayo Vallecano.
Atletico, the 2013-14 champions, have 16 points in fourth, with Villarreal are also on 16 in fifth.
Javi Guerra had given Rayo a shock lead at the Camp Nou, but Neymar twice converted from the penalty spot after he had been brought down to give the hosts a half-time lead.
The Brazilian then struck twice in a minute after the break and teed up Luis Suarez to rifle home a fifth before Jozabed pulled a goal back for Rayo as Barca got back to winning ways after a 2-1 defeat at Sevilla last time out.
"I'm very happy for the victory and how we played. Everyone deserves congratulations," Neymar said.
"It was very difficult, they have quality players that play their football. We struggled a bit, but we did our job."
Barca should have had the game well wrapped up by half-time against an incredibly open Rayo defence as Tono made brilliant one-on-one saves from Ivan Rakitic and Suarez in the first 10 minutes.
However, it was the visitors who took the lead on 14 minutes when Manchester United reject Bebe's driven cross was turned in by Guerra.
Barca responded immediately as Neymar was chopped down by Diego Llorente and he dusted himself down before sending Tono the wrong way from the spot. Neymar had the ball in the net again moments later, but the goal was ruled out as Suarez was adjudged to have interfered with Tono's view from an offside position.
Barca were soon in front as an outrageous piece of skill from Neymar provoked Nacho into committing another penalty and this time Neymar slotted the ball to Tono's left.
Rayo had chances to draw level again early in the second period as Claudio Bravo did brilliantly to twice deny Guerra from close range.
Neymar then killed the game off when he rifled home the rebound after Tono had again denied Suarez and, straight from the kick-off, Suarez unselfishly squared for his strike partner to walk in his fourth of the game.
And it was roles reversed for the fifth as Neymar's cross was thumped home on the volley by Suarez.
Villarreal had the better of the opening stages against Celta but the Galician side switched up a gear towards the end of the first half and Fabian Orellana curled in a sweet shot in the 41st minute to put them ahead. Villarreal were reduced to 10 men two minutes into the second period when defender Eric Bailly, who had earlier been booked for a wild tackle, was shown a second yellow card after he flung out an arm and handled the ball.
Celta struggled to capitalise on their one-man advantage and squandered several chances before former Celta youth player Denis Suarez levelled with a deflected 67th-minute effort.
(reuters)