Villarreal Secures Third Place in La Liga with Derby Win Over Valencia

Villarreal solidified their position in third place in La Liga with a 2-0 away win against Valencia, extending Valencia's winless run and pushing them closer to the relegation zone. Gerard Moreno scored a penalty just before halftime after a VAR-reviewed foul, and Santi Comesaña added a second goal in the second half following a rebound save. Meanwhile, Espanyol moved into fourth place with a narrow 1-0 victory over Elche, thanks to a goal by Carlos Romero shortly after halftime. Getafe secured a 1-0 win against Athletic Bilbao with a late goal by Borja Mayoral, elevating them to ninth place. Girona and Oviedo played an entertaining 3-3 draw, with Girona rallying from a 2-0 deficit but conceding a last-minute equalizer. These results reflect a competitive La Liga mid-table battle with Villarreal emerging as a strong contender behind leaders Real Madrid and Barcelona.