MADRID — Villarreal kept pace with Atletico Madrid in La Liga by beating Elche 2-1, with Tajon Buchanan and Santiago Mouriño scoring in the first half.
Buchanan, the Canada striker, and Mouriño, the Uruguay defender, put Villarreal in control before former AC Milan striker André Silva pulled one back late for Elche.
Villarreal has 54 points, level with Atletico, which remains ahead on goal difference. The win also moved Villarreal 11 points clear of fifth-place Real Betis, while Elche stayed 17th.
Defending champion Barcelona leads the Spanish league ahead of Real Madrid.
Getafe beats Real Betis after Madrid win
Midtable Getafe continued its improved run with a 2-0 home win over Betis after beating cross-city giant Real Madrid 1-0.
Kiko Femenia gave Getafe the lead before Martin Satriano added another goal. Satriano, the 25-year-old Uruguayan forward on loan from French club Lyon, had also scored against Madrid.
Sevilla drew 1-1 at home to Rayo Vallecano. Akor Adams, the Nigeria striker, put Sevilla ahead early, but Uruguayan defender Alfonso Espino equalized early in the second half. Both sides remain around midtable.
Valencia rallies past Alavés in stoppage time
Valencia came from behind twice and scored a late penalty to beat Alavés 3-2, moving up to 12th.
Lucas Boye put Alavés ahead with an early penalty before Javier Guerra equalized two minutes into the second half. Boye scored again to make it 2-1, but Swiss defender Eray Cömert leveled in the 90th minute.
Alavés players Ander Guevara and Jon Pacheco were sent off before substitute Hugo Duro converted the penalty for Valencia, which lost Champions League finals in 2000 and 2001. Alavés remains 16th, one point above Elche.