A 2-1 win at basement side Bukhara marked a 23rd consecutive victory for Luiz Felipe Scolari’s runaway leaders.

Bukhara took a surprise lead after 15 minutes when Suhrob Kobilov fired past Bunyodkor’s Uzbekistan international goalkeeper Ignaitiy Nesterov from outside the area.

But Scolari’s decision to switch to a more attack-minded formation was rewarded 10 minutes before the break when Shavkat Salomov tapped home from close range after Server Djeparov’s shot came back off the bar.

Rivaldo and Sahob Juraev were introduced by Bunyodkor in the second half - and although Bukhara continued to pose a threat, Villanueva calmly rounded off a flowing move with 12 minutes remaining.

Bunyodkor, who face South Korea’s Pohang Steelers in the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League next week, remain 19 points clear of second-placed city rivals Pakhtakor - who hammered Qyzylqum 6-1.

Qyzylqum took an unexpected 14th-minute lead through Nasibullaev. But Bojan Miladinovic and Ruzim Akhmedov put Pakhtakor in front at half-time, before two goals from Odil Ahmedov and strikes from Ilkhomjon Suyunov and Komoliddin Tadjiev wrapped up the emphatic win.