Villarreal up to second in La Liga after 4-0 win over Rayo Vallecano

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MADRID (AP) — Villarreal scored three goals in nine minutes to rout Rayo Vallecano 4-0 in La Liga on Saturday and move up to second in the standings.

Villarreal led 1-0 by halftime after Gerard Moreno's 22nd-minute goal and then unleashed a flurry after the break.

Alberto Moleiro doubled the lead in the 56th, and two minutes later it was 3-0 when Santiago Comesana struck.

Ayoze Perez completed the rout in the 65th.

The victory left Villarreal on 23 points, one ahead of third-placed Barcelona, which plays on Sunday. It was four points behind leader Real Madrid, which was playing Valencia later Saturday.

Atletico Madrid is fourth and level with Barcelona after a 3-0 win against Sevilla. Julian Alvarez's penalty in the 64th provided the breakthrough before Thiago Almada and Antoine Griezmann added the other goals.

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