Tenerife coach Jose Luis Oltra's worst fears were realised as erstwhile strugglers Villarreal finally clicked into gear to record their biggest league win in more than six years. Oltra had warned it was only a matter of time before the Villarreal 'beast' woke up after a dismal start to the season, in which they had taken just three points from their opening seven games.

Joseba Llorente set Ernesto Valverde's side on the way to glory in the 16th minute, and Villarreal blitzed Tenerife with three goals in seven minutes immediately after half-time. Robert Pires doubled his side's lead in the 47th minute and Giuseppe Rossi, Llorente and Ruben Cani added further goals to to lift Villarreal out of the relegation zone.

Villarreal showed no mercy as the promoted Canary Islanders continued dismal away form in which they have lost all four games on their travels, scoring just once and conceding 15.

Fifth for Mallorca
Mallorca continued their impressive start to the season with a fifth successive home victory, at the expense of strugglers Racing Santander. Gregorio Manzano's island side find themselves in exclusive company in the upper echelons of the table and they again proved too strong at Son Moix, thanks to Pierre Webo's 18th-minute goal.

In contrast, Juan Carlos Mandia's Racing side have struggled to find any momentum and have now picked up only seven points from their opening nine games.

Valencia continued their fine start to the season, seeing off bottom club Malaga thanks to a second-half goal from defender David Navarro. Navarro headed home in the 69th minute to help Valencia, who have now won nine of their 15 competitive games, climb back up to fourth and to within five points of leaders Barcelona.

For Malaga, though, defeat leaves them with just four points from nine league games and without a victory since their 3-0 defeat of Atletico Madrid on the opening weekend.

Sporting Gijon produced a stirring second-half performance to come from behind and earn a point against their fellow European hopefuls. Nouioui Lassad gave the hosts a half-time lead, but Diego Castro equalised for Sporting - roared on by 8,000 travelling fans at Riazor - and Lassad was denied a winner by the offside flag.

Disappointed Espanyol
Espanyol had their hopes of a fourth league win of the season go up in smoke after conceding a 94th-minute equaliser at home to Valladolid. The Catalans went ahead through Luis Garcia after 51 minutes. But substitute Haris Medunjanin snatched a point for the visitors with a screamer deep into added time, after Espanyol had endured a nervous period at the end of normal time.

Real Zaragoza moved up to 12th after edging out a lacklustre Almeria side. Marcelino Garcia Toral's side went ahead through Angel Lafita just short of the half-hour, and Ruben Pulido put the hosts two up after 35 minutes.

Although Juanma Ortiz quickly pulled a goal back for Almeria, the Andalusians were unable to make further inroads against a Zaragoza side who held on comfortably for their third win of the season.