Valencia join losers Barcelona, Villarreal in second place

 Barca, who earlier on Saturday crashed to a 2-0 defeat at Getafe; Villarreal and Valencia are all on 24 points now, just one point behind leaders Real Madrid.

 In fifth place, on 20 points, are Atletico Madrid, with Espanyol sixth on 19.

 On Sunday leaders Real are at home to midtable Mallorca, while Villarreal take on resurgent Sevilla.

 The defeat of error-prone Murcia gave a first win to new Valencia coach Ronald Koeman, who kicked off on Tuesday with a disastrous 0-2 defeat against Rosenborg Trondheim.

 Veteran defender Ivan Helguera opened the scoring for Valencia after just 12 minutes, by heading in a David Silva free-kick.

 The early goal meant that, for once, the Mestalla crowd got behind their team instead of jeering them.

 In the 26th minute David Villa made it 2-0 after being put through by David Albelda. Villa scored his second goal five minutes into the second half, on a precise centre from Silva.

 "It was important for us to win tonight after the problems we have had in recent weeks," Silva told television channel La Sexta.

 Earlier on Saturday, Barca turned in another lethargic away display, and were deservedly beaten by hard-working Getafe.

 Manu del Moral scored the first goal in the 27th minute, and Juan Albin put Barca out of their misery by making it 2-0 in the 90th minute.

 Barca have won every game at home but only one out of six on the road.

 They were sluggish, indolent and ponderous, and never looked capable of getting even a draw.

 Barca coach Frank Rijkaard raised eyebrows by taking off Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi. Without them, Barca looked even more blunt in attack and failed to create chances to equalize.

 Six minutes from the end Barca full-back Gianluca Zambrotta was sent off for a wild, frustrated tackle on Esteban Granero.

DPA