Villa double sees Valencia go top in Spain

MADRID, Spain (AP) -- A double strike from David Villa helped Valencia beat Deportivo La Coruna 4-2 on Sunday to move them top of the Spanish league, ahead of Villarreal on goal difference.

The visitors took the lead when Valencia defender Emiliano Moretti put through his own net in the 11th minute, after redirecting Pablo Alvarez's cross past keeper Renan Brito at his near post.

However, man-of-the-match Juanma Mata levelled in the 35th minute when the young winger headed home a flicked-on cross from Joaquin Sanchez at the far post.

Villa made it 2-1 when he ran onto Mata's ball early in the second half, before cutting inside and stabbing home a right-foot shot.

Sanchez added Valencia's third in the 69th minute when converting Mata's cross from close-range and Mata also set-up the fourth, breaking down the left before feeding Villa at the far post for an easy tap-in that took the Spain striker top of the scoring charts with six goals from five matches.

Angel Lafita pulled a consolation goal back for added Deportivo with five minutes remaining.

Meanwhile, Almeria continued their fine start to the season, but they needed a goal deep in injury time to beat Recreativo Huelva 1-0 to move level with Barcelona in the table with 10 points.

Alvaro Negredo scored the late winner after Recreativo had been reduced to nine men following the dismissals of Jesus Vazquez and Oliveira in the closing stages. Sisinio Gonzalez was then sent off for dissent following Negredo's fourth goal of the season.

Elsewhere, Malaga secured their first victory of the season with a 2-1 win over Valladolid.

Manuel "Lolo" Ortiz slotted a low shot home through a crowd in the 34th minute for Malaga's first goal of the season after 394 minutes played.

Adrian Lopez then secured promoted Malaga's first three points in the 55th minute when the substitute poked Eliseu's cross under goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo. Pedro Leon pulled a goal back for Valladolid when he sidefooted in Haris Medunjanin's rebound at the near post.