LaLiga: Barcelona Thrash Villarreal, Ter Stegen Sustain Knee Injury

Madrid, Sept 23: FC Barcelona remain on top of LaLiga with an impressive 5-1 win away to Villarreal to make it six wins from six games, but have paid a heavy cost as goalkeeper ter Stegen suffered what could be a season-ending knee injury.

Ter Stegen suffered the injury while claiming a corner two minutes into the second half after two goals from Robert Lewandowski had put Barcelona ahead, and Ayoze Perez pulled one back for the home side.

Pablo Torre added Barcelona's third just before the hour, with Raphinha adding two more in the 74th and 83rd minutes.

Atletico Madrid dropped points with a 1-1 draw away to Rayo Vallecano in which they again punched below their summer spending, reports Xinhua.

Isi Palazon put Rayo ahead with an excellent goal with Conor Gallagher leveling for Atletico after the break to further increase his status at the club.

Athletic Bilbao move up to third with a 3-1 win at home to Celta, which gives them their third triumph in a week.

Gorka Guruzeta's fourth-minute flick put Athletic ahead, but Iago Aspas leveled from the penalty spot in the 25th minute.

Guruzeta's second of the game put Athletic back ahead after 39 minutes before Alvaro Djalo's first goal for the club sealed the win 10 minutes from time.

Earlier in the day, Getafe and Leganes drew the south-Madrid derby 1-1 with Borja Mayoral's 83rd-minute penalty for the home side, canceling out Jorge Saenz's goal for Leganes seven minutes earlier.

(IANS)