With a 2-0 victory over Atletico Madrid on Sunday, goals from Yeremy Pino and Gerard Moreno propelled Villarreal to the top of the infant La Liga standings.

Last weekend, Unai Emery's team opened their campaign with a convincing 3-0 victory at Real Valladolid, but the victory over Atletico will inspire optimism about a potential bid for Champions League qualification. However, the outcome served as a wake-up call for the capital team, who had also begun the season with a 3-0 victory at Getafe.

Villarreal, one of four teams with two wins from two games, has edged out defending champion Real Madrid on goal differential. Villarreal advanced to the semifinals of the Champions League last season. At the Estadio Metropolitano, the away team got off to a quick start, forcing Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak into some excellent saves from Giovani Lo Celso and Etienne Capoue. Moreno believed he had given Villarreal the lead at the break, but the goal was disallowed due to a handball.

Matheus Cunha was introduced midway through the second period by home coach Diego Simeone in place of Alvaro Morata and almost broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute, only to be denied by keeper Geronimo Rulli. Teenage winger Pino instead put Villarreal in front just a minute later, capitalising on a poor clearance to drill a fine low shot into the bottom corner.

Atletico’s Nahuel Molina was sent off deep into injury-time and Moreno netted in the 97th minute to send Villarreal top.