Madrid - Villarreal moved up to fifth in the Spanish Liga on Thursday with a 2-1 home win over lowly Recreativo Huelva.

Their first win in five games leaves the Yellow Submarine with 52 points from 32 games, three points behind fourth-place Valencia and two ahead of sixth-place Malaga.

Javier Camunas gave Huelva the lead after just two minutes, but Joseba Llorente made it 1-1 for Villarreal with a powerful drive four minutes before half-time.

The winning goal, in the 68th minute, was controversial, to say the least.

Villarreal playmaker Cani beat the visiting keeper with a delightful chip, but Huelva defender Nasief Morris seemed to have cleared the ball off the line.

To the fury of the Huelva players, the goal was given - and the hosts won 2-1.

Later Thursday, Atletico Madrid suffered their biggest humiliation of the season, 5-1 at lively Racing Santander, for whom the towering Nikola Zigic was the key man. Their 11th defeat of the season leaves hapless Atletico with 49 points and stranded in seventh place, their hopes of returning to the Champions League in tatters.

Thursday's other late game saw Mallorca beat Valladolid 2-0 with goals from Alhassane Keita.

Mallorca and Santander are now joint 10th, well out of danger.

In contrast, Huelva are second from bottom with just 30 points, two points above bottom team Numancia.

Espanyol moved up to third from bottom earlier Thursday with a defiant 3-0 win at fellow strugglers Sporting Gijon, with goals from Nene, Roman Martinez and Jose Callejon.

Espanyol - who seemed doomed a month ago - now have 32 points, just one less than Gijon. Then come Getafe on 34 and Osasuna on 35. (dpa)