Madrid - Sunday saw home wins in the Spanish Liga for four ambitious teams keen to return to European competition next season: Mallorca, Deportivo Coruna, Zaragoza and Osasuna. All four have had a rough time of it in the last couple of years, but they are determined to do better this season.
Mallorca moved up to fourth with a 3-0 thrashing of hapless Valladolid. The islanders hardly made any signings this summer but did manage to hold on to wily old coach Gregorio Manzano.
His team are now fourth, two points behind third-placed Sevilla and five behind twin giants Barcelona and Real Madrid, who have both won their first five games.
Veteran Portuguese defender Jose Carlos Nunes put Mallorca ahead against Valladolid after just four minutes, after the shaky Valladolid defence had failed to clear a free-kick.
Aritz Aduriz made it 2-0 on the hour after being set up by Mario Suarez, and Borja Valero completed the rout on the break in the 63rd minute.
"We have made a good start to the season," said Suarez, "but there is a long way to go still."
Mallorca are one point above Athletic Bilbao, who crashed 4-0 at home to Sevilla on Saturday, and Deportivo Coruna, who beat troubled Villarreal 1-0 in Sunday's late game.
The only goal in La Coruna came after just eight minutes, when Deportivo's Brazilian newcomer Juca made it 1-0 with a curling free- kick.
Villarreal, who reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League last season, are second from bottom with just two points.
When asked if his job was in jeopardy, Villarreal coach Ernesto Valverde replied that "I am not worried at all."
Deportivo and Bilbao are one point above Valencia, who were held to a disappointing 2-2 draw on Saturday by Atletico Madrid.
Zaragoza and Osasuna share eighth place with Espanyol, who were held to a 0-0 draw by bottom team Xerez.
Zaragoza hammered dull Getafe 3-0, with two goals from new idol Abel Aguilar and one from former Real Madrid defender Francisco Pavon.
Osasuna, for their part, beat Sporting Gijon 1-0 thanks to a penalty converted by Javad Nekounam after Rafael Sastre had handled in the box.
In Sunday's other early game, Almeria forced a late 2-2 draw at home to Racing Santander.
