Villa strikes as Messi-less Barca go third

Spain World Cup star David Villa scored a 49th minute winner as Barcelona beat Sporting Gijon 1-0 on Wednesday to record their first league win of the season at the Camp Nou.

Villa, 28, began his career at hometown club Gijon in 1999 and, in the absence of the injured Lionel Messi, struck a timely first goal at home for Barcelona following his 40-million-euro summer move from Valencia.

It was Barcelona's first home goal of the league campaign and allowed the champions to climb to third on nine points, one point behind leaders and arch-rivals Real Madrid who beat Espanyol 3-0 on Saturday.

The win gave the Camp Nou public something to cheer, after watching their side lose 2-0 to promoted Hercules in their last home league match. Since then, Barcelona have won three games on the spin.

"Of course we miss (Lionel) Messi but we have a great squad and we can go on without him," said Villa. "It was a tough game tonight. They stopped us playing our game and marked Xavi and (Andres) Iniesta closely in the first half.

"I am relaxed about my own game. The chances are coming and the important thing is for Barcelona to keep winning." Valencia saw their 100 percent start come to an end in a 1-1 home draw with Atletico Madrid. Portuguese winger Simao shot Atletico ahead and Valencia needed an 83rd minute equaliser from Aritz Aduriz to salvage a point as they joined Real Madrid on 10 points with Madrid top on goal difference.

Atletico had been indebted to 19-year-old goalkeeper David de Gea for producing several smart saves to keep his side in front until the closing stages with Aduriz powering in a header to equalise seven minutes from time. AFP