Mina scores in each half as Valencia beats Sociedad
MADRID (AP) - Valencia is holding a tight grip on the last qualification spot for the Champions League in Spain.
It kept a safe distance from its closest challengers by defeating Real Sociedad 2-1 Sunday and extending its winning streak to three matches.
Santi Mina scored a goal in each half at Mestalla Stadium to keep Valencia eight points in front of fifth-place Villarreal, which defeated Getafe 1-0 earlier. Sevilla has a chance to move within seven points of Valencia if it wins its home match against second-place Atletico Madrid later Sunday.
Valencia trails third-place Real Madrid by two points and Atletico by six points, and is 16 points behind leader Barcelona after 25 matches.
"It's never easy to win in the first division, especially in the second half of the season, when every team is trying to add points to reach their goals," said Mina, Valencia's top scorer in the league with 11. "We can't let up in this final part of the season because we know it's going to be difficult."
Mina opened the scoring with a header before halftime and Mikel Oyarzabal equalized for the visitors early in the second half. Mina netted the winner midway through the second half after Sociedad goalkeeper Tono Ramirez failed to hold on to a low cross by Rodrigo into the area, giving the Valencia forward an easy goal.
Real Sociedad dropped to 14th.
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ASENJO THE HERO
Sergio Asenjo saved two penalty kicks as Villarreal held on to a 1-0 win against Getafe, ending a five-match winless streak and moving to fifth place.
Enes Unal scored from close range three minutes into the match for the hosts, and Asenjo stopped a penalty taken by Angel Rodriguez in the first half and another by Jorge Molina in the second.
"Asenjo was key," Villarreal coach Javier Calleja said. "He is the type of player who gives you points. He gave us three points today with his penalty saves."
Villarreal, which had lost four of its last five matches in all competitions, moved two points ahead of Sevilla, which later Sunday hosted second-place Atletico Madrid.
Getafe, which hadn't lost in six consecutive matches, stayed 10th in the 20-team standings.
Leader Barcelona opened a 10-point gap on Atletico by routing Girona 6-1 at Camp Nou Stadium on Saturday. Lionel Messi scored twice and Luis Suarez had a hat trick.
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EN-NESYRI'S DAY
It was an up-and-down game for Moroccan forward Youssef En-Nesyri, who scored a goal, missed a penalty and was red carded in Malaga's 2-1 loss at Athletic Bilbao.
En-Nesyri opened the scoring from inside the area in the 13th, had his penalty stopped by a superb save by Athletic goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga in the 61st and was sent off with a second yellow card for a dangerous foul in the 84th.
Athletic was already ahead 2-1 when En-Nesyri missed the penalty. Markel Susaeta scored four minutes after Malaga's goal and Mikel San Jose put the hosts ahead just before halftime.
It was Athletic's first league win in seven matches, leaving the club 12th in the standings.
Malaga stayed last with its fourth straight loss. It hasn't won in 10 matches and is seven points behind Levante, the first team outside the relegation zone.
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