Substitute Baena the difference as Villarreal beats Las Palmas to reach third in La Liga

MADRID (AP) — Villarreal moved into third place in La Liga after a comprehensive 3-1 win over bottom club Las Palmas on Monday.

Villarreal took the lead a minute before halftime through Nicolas Pépé but Fabio Silva equalized a minute into the second half when he ran on to a sublime pass from Adnan Januzaj and fired home from 15 meters out.

The home side controlled the match throughout but had to wait until the 82nd to get its nose back in front. Second-half substitute Alejandro Baena whipped in a cross from the left and Thierno Barry nodded it past the goalkeeper from close in.

Baena made sure of all three points when he ran from his own half to finish off a counterattack six minutes into stoppage time.

Villarreal could have made the win more comfortable but Baena missed a penalty early in the second half and Barry had a goal disallowed for offside when he needlessly finished off a goal-bound header from Eric Bailly.

The result means Villarreal has 17 points, one behind Real Madrid and four behind table-topper Barcelona. Atletico Madrid was fourth with 16.

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The Associated Press