Villarreal's Spanish defender #24 Alfonso Pedraza scores his team's third goal during the Spanish League football match between Elche CF and Villarreal CF at Martinez Valero Stadium in Elche. AFP
The Yellow Submarine moved provisionally third, trailing leaders Barcelona by eight points having played one fewer match.
Later Saturday champions Barcelona visit city rivals Espanyol, while second place Real Madrid host Real Betis on Sunday. Atletico Madrid, fourth, visit Real Sociedad on Sunday.
A defeat by Barcelona before the winter break was a setback for Marcelino Garcia Toral's Villarreal but they started the new year with a convincing triumph at the Martinez Valero stadium.
Alberto Moleiro and Georges Mikautadze fired the visitors into a comfortable lead inside 13 minutes with clinical finishes.
Martim Neto pulled one back for Elche from the edge of the box, but Alfonso Pedraza wrapped up Villarreal's win late on by slipping in behind and maintaining his composure to beat Inaki Pena.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
Short link: