Villarreal have gone top of La Liga thanks to a 2-0 victory over Racing Santander. First half goals from Turkish international Nihat Kahveci and Guiseppe Rossi secured pole position on goal difference from local rivals Valencia, who laboured to a 2-1 win over Getafe.

After Racing had the best of some early chances, Kahveci broke the deadlock six minutes before half time by firing home after a superb pass from the right flank by Chilean winger Matias Fernandez.

Racing's problems increased when they were reduced to 10 men on 62 minutes after defender Aldo Duscher was dismissed for a wild tackle on Cani Garcia.

Guiseppe Rossi then secured three points for the visitors when he scored, his fourth goal of the season, from a Robert Pires pass after 76 minutes.