Celta Vigo joint top with win at Villarreal

Madrid - Celta de Vigo moved level with Real Madrid and Barcelona at the top of La Liga thanks to Nolito's last minute winner in a 2-1 victory at 10-man Villarreal on Sunday.

Villarreal had started the weekend as leaders, but a second consecutive defeat leaves the club two points off the top in fourth.

Real Madrid remains top on goal difference and travel to Celta next Saturday in a top of the table clash.

Villarreal enjoyed the better of the early stages, but the club was hit by a sucker punch four minutes before half-time when Fabian Orellana curled home a superb opener from outside the box.

The visitors could have been even further ahead at the break as Pablo Hernandez's chipped effort drifted just over and Nolito hit the post.

Villarreal was then reduced to 10 men early in the second-half when Ivory Coast international defender Eric Bailly was shown a second yellow card.

Yet, despite Celta's domination of possession, the host levelled through Denis Suarez's deflected effort 23 minutes from time.

Marcelino's men couldn't hold out for a point, though, as Spanish international Nolito swept home his sixth goal of the season on the rebound after Orellana's initial effort came back off the bar.

Atletico Madrid can leapfrog Villarreal into fourth with victory when the club travels to David Moyes's Real Sociedad later on Sunday.