(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-12-03 10:11

MADRID - Villarreal missed their chance to stay in touch with Real Madrid at the top of the Primera Liga when they went down 2-0 at Valladolid on Sunday.

The defeat meant that Manuel Pellegrini's side remain level with Barcelona on 28 points in third spot in the table and are now four adrift of leaders Real who won 3-1 at home to Racing Santander on Saturday.

Villarreal went into the game having won on three of their last four outings but never looked comfortable against a determined Valladolid side that put them under real pressure in midfield and hit them hard on the break.

The home side went in front in the 18th minute when unmarked striker Joseba Llorente powered a header past Villarreal keeper Sebastian Viera after he met a fine cross from winger Sisi.

Former Villarreal striker Victor made it 2-0 early in the second half when he poked home from close range after a slick passing move involving Llorente and winger Jonathan Sesma.

Atletico Madrid moved up to fourth spot, just a point behind Barca and Villarreal, after goals from Diego Forlan and Raul Garcia earned them a 2-0 win away to struggling Real Betis.

CLEVER PASS

Forlan put Atletico ahead 11 minutes before the break when he controlled a clever lofted pass from strike partner Sergio Aguero with his chest and shot low past keeper Ricardo.

Betis pushed hard in the second half and were only denied an equaliser after a great double save from Atletico keeper Leo Franco who blocked fierce shots from Leandro Somoza and Rafael Sobis.

But Garcia made sure of the win when he drilled home left-footed from the edge of the area after his first shot had rebounded off a defender.

Defeat for Betis meant they remain second from bottom, two points behind Deportivo Coruna who lost 2-1 at home to Osasuna.

Michael Laudrup's Getafe notched up their fourth win in five games after a double from striker Braulio earned them a 2-1 comeback victory over bottom club Levante which lifted them to 10th place in the table.