体坛英语新闻：Real Madrid go top after Atletico slip up in Almeria

MADRID, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The top of the BBVA Primera Liga table got a bit tighter on Saturday night when league leaders Atletico Madrid slipped to a shock 2-0 defeat away to Almeria, allowing Real Madrid to climb above them.

It has been a bad week for Atletico, who were beaten 3-0 by Real Madrid, who in turn will be knocked off the top if FC Barcelona are able to win away to Sevilla on Sunday night.

Surprisingly Atletico have never won in Almeria and on Saturday they were without first choice goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois and his replacement Dani Aranzubia had a difficult night, as he was beaten by a cross from Verza with 11 minutes remaining.

The keeper was then sent off for supposedly committing a penalty after an ill-judged decision to try and dribble the ball round Almeria striker Zongo and Verza fired home Almeria's second of the night with Atletico midfielder, Gabi Fernandez in goal.

Real Madrid move level on points and ahead of their neighbours on goal difference courtesy of 4-2 victory at home to Villarreal, a result achieved despite the absence of the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo.

Fit-again Gareth Bale opened the scoring after a defensive mistake after 6 minutes and then set up Karim Benzema to make it 2- 0 with an instinctive finish after 24 minutes.

Mario Gaspar's thumping drive just before halftime got Villarreal back into the game, but Jese Rodriguez's fourth goal of the season after 63 minutes again put his side two goals ahead.

Geovani Dos Santos then scored a magnificent free kick to keep Villarreal into the game, but Benzema's second of the game made the result safe for Carlo Ancelotti's side.

Valencia took a big step forward thanks to a 5-0 thrashing of hapless Betis, who remain bottom of the table with just 14 points from 23 games.

It was an even match until the 41st minute when goals from Jeremy Mattieu and Paco Alcacaer totally changed the game before the break. Sophaine Feghouli, Alcazar and Javi Vargas added goals after the break as Betis fell apart.

Rayo Vallecano took a morale boosting win in their fight to avoid the drop as they defeated Malaga 4-1 thanks partly the great performance from Iago Falque, although the fact Malaga had to play half of the game with a man less after Sergio Sanchez was sent off did little to help the visitors cause.