La Liga wrap: Unbeaten Mallorca go second

23 September 2012 23:21

Mallorca have defeated Valencia 2-0 to maintain their unbeaten start to the La Liga season and move into second on the table.

Victor and Javier Arizmendi scored a goal in each half for Mallorca, while in the Spanish capital Real Madrid's visit to Rayo Vallecano's stadium was postponed after the wires, which provide power to the stadium's floodlights, were sabotaged.

The match will now be played on Monday.

In Mallorca, the home team took the lead in just the eighth minute when striker Tomer Hemed collected a deflected cross in the penalty area, turned away from goal to tee up Victor, who smashed the ball underneath Valencia goalkeeper Diego Alves.

Valencia dominated Sunday's match with 69 percent possession and 27 shots but Mallorca stole victory 10 minutes into the second half when Arizmendi ran onto Victor's flicked header and unleashed a powerful shot into the far corner of the goal.

The win was Mallorca's third of the season from five games and sees them move to second on 11 points, ahead of Malaga on goals scored.

Malaga dropped to third after a scoreless draw at Athletic Bilbao.

Atletico Madrid moved in behind Malaga on the table after a 2-1 win over Real Valladolid.

The first half an hour remained goalless but Atletico's fans will have considered the first goal worth the wait as central defender Diego Godin produced a fine finish.

Right winger Koke found space in midfield in the 31st minute and slid a perfectly-weighted pass through Valladolid's defence, allowing Godin to burst into the box before precisely chipping the ball over the visitors' goalkeeper and into the net.

Just before half-time, Atletico forward Diego Costa collected a knockdown from a free-kick and was tripped inside the penalty area by Valladolid's Alberto Bueno.

Costa's striking partner Radamel Falcao stepped up and scored from the penalty spot to make it 2-0 at the break.

While Valladolid did manage a goal in the second half, with Atletico goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois letting Bueno's shot slip through his hands in the 55th minute, the home side held on for their third victory of the season to move fourth on 10 points.

In the other La Liga match, Levante overcame Real Sociedad 2-1.