Madrid, September 29:

David Villa’s hot streak in front of goal continued with two goals as Valencia returned to the top of the Spanish first division after a 4-2 home win over Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday.

Valencia, league champions in 2002 and 2004, knocked Villarreal off the summit on goal difference. Sevilla moved up to fourth, two points behind Valencia, with a 1-0 win at Atletico Madrid. A 21st minute free-kick from Luis Fabiano clinched the match for the visitors.

While Atletico failed to come from a goal down Valencia showed great resilience to overcome Deportiva after an own goal from Emiliano Moretti just 11 minutes in saw them fall behind. The home side responded with Juan Mata levelling and Villa put them ahead in the 49th. Joaquin made it 3-1 before Villa got a tap-in.

Racing Santander lost 2-1 at home to Real Mallorca. Pierre Webo struck four minutes from time to sink Racing who had initially taken the lead through Ivan Marcano before Fernando Varela equalised for the visitors.

Newcomers Malaga recorded their first win with a 2-1 over Valladolid. Manuel Lolo scored for Malaga in the 33rd minute and the decisive second came on 54 minutes through Adrian Lopez. Elsewhere, Almeria sit sixth in the standings with Alvaro Negredo scoring the winning goal five minutes into stoppage time to down nine-men Recreativo Huelva.

Italian Serie A

ROME: Ronaldinho scored his first goal in Italian football to give AC Milan a vital 1-0 victory over Inter Milan on Sunday.

Inter Milan had two players sent off — although Marco Materazzi was dismissed after he’d been substituted — as Jose Mourinho tasted defeat as Inter coach for the first time.

Previous leaders Inter drop down to fourth with the loss as the Serie A table takes on an unfamiliar look. Lazio are the new leaders after they won 3-1 at Torino while Napoli, one of only two remaining unbeaten teams, are up to an unlikely second following their 1-0 success at Bol-ogna. Udinese won 2-1 at Siena while Catania beat Chievo 1-0.