La Liga: Levante 3 Real Betis 1

Levante leaped into the Champions League places in the La Liga table, with a 3-1 victory over Real Betis on Monday.

The hosts took the lead at the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia, when Jose Barkero’s free-kick in the 34th minute curled in to beat Real Betis goalkeeper Fabricio at his near post.

Levante went two clear eight minutes later via a Xavi Torres strike, but Betis stayed in touch prior to the break, when Jorge Molina made the Levante defence pay full price for a poor clearance by rolling home a strike past the on-rushing Gustavo Munua.

Striker Arouna Kone reinstated the hosts’ two-goal advantage by finishing off a fast-paced attack by poking home his ninth goal of the season in the 51st minute.

Juan Ignacio Martinez’s men are outright fourth on 38 points, one point ahead of Athletic Bilbao and Malaga, and five shy of third-placed Valencia.