Fernando Llorente scored twice yesterday to help Athletic Bilbao beat Villarreal 3-2 and maintain its perfect start to this season’s Spanish league.

Javi Martinez also netted the winner at Bilbao’s San Mames Stadium as the Basque team made it nine points out of nine for the first time since the 1988-89 season, when it eventually finished seventh.

Villarreal’s defeat left it winless so far, a poor beginning for coach Ernesto Valverde, who took charge in the offseason after Manuel Pellegrini joined Real Madrid.

Other results were: Zaragoza 1, Valladolid 2; and Almeria 1, Getafe 0.

Later, two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo helped Real Madrid beat promoted Xerez 5-0 to join Bilbao and Barcelona on nine points.

In the late match Valencia failed to reach the top group with a 2-2 draw to Sporting Gijon.

On Saturday, Barcelona continued its perfect start to the defense of its league title by beating Atletico Madrid 5-2.

Also Saturday, Mallorca thumped Tenerife 4-0, Sevilla won 2-0 at Osasuna, Racing Santander beat Malaga 2-1 away, while Espanyol won 3-2 at Deportivo La Coruna.

Bilbao, which also defeated Austria Vienna 3-0 in the Europa League on Thursday, could have scored more goals but ended nervously after Santi Cazorla had fired Villarreal’s second goal from a free kick in the 85th minute.

Striker Llorente opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a header from David Lopez’s cross from the right in a swift counterattack by the home team.

Llorente then showed impressive skill to double his tally in the 40th, chesting the ball down before firing a low shot past goalkeeper Diego Lopez.

Villarreal midfielder Ruben “Cani” Gracia reduced the deficit by firing home from Joseba Llorente’s headed pass in the 48th, the first goal Bilbao had conceded this season.

Midfielder Martinez nodded Bilbao’s third goal from Igor Gabilondo’s corner 11 minutes later.

Sisi Gonzalez’s 56th-minute winner brought Valladolid its first victory of the season at promoted Zaragoza.

Marquitos Garcia opened the scoring for Valladolid in the third minute, with Jorge Lopez equalizing for the home team 24 minutes later.

Almeria also recorded its first win – and goal – by beating Getafe courtesy of defender Michel Macedo’s 47th-minute strike.