<
>

Chema Rodriguez's wonder goal lifts Levante into fifth in La Liga

Chema Rodriguez scored an early contender for goal of the season as Levante eased to a 3-0 victory over 10-man Real Sociedad in La Liga on Thursday night.

Rodriguez opened the scoring in sensational fashion, firing a 20-yard left-footed volley into the top corner on the stroke of half-time.

Jose Luis Morales then doubled the home side's lead from the penalty spot after he was adjudged to have been fouled in the area with 15 minutes remaining.

Sociedad's Diego Llorente was dismissed after 88 minutes following a second bookable offence before Enis Bardhi completed the victory with a fine free kick shortly afterwards.

The crushing win takes newly-promoted Levante above Real Madrid and up to fifth in the table.

Earlier, Angel Luis Rodriguez Diaz salvaged a point for Getafe with a late strike at Celta Vigo.

Uruguayan Maxi Gomez, the 21-year-old who arrived at Celta Vigo in the summer, continued his fine form by opening the scoring for the hosts.

Gomez, who scored a brace in his side's opening-day defeat to Real Sociedad, took his La Liga tally for the season to an impressive four from the opening five matches with his 25th-minute strike.

But Diaz scored with just four minutes remaining to rescue a draw for the newly promoted side.

Villarreal were held to a goalless draw by Espanyol at the Estadio de la Ceramica.

The hosts went into the match on the back of successive victories following two defeats in as many of their opening matches. But the Yellow Submarine were unable to muster up a hat trick of consecutive wins despite having more of the ball and 14 shots to Espanyol's 10.

Villarreal move up to ninth in the table while Espanyol, who managed their first victory of the season with a 2-1 success against Celta Vigo on Monday night, are 16th following their hard-fought point.