La Liga wrap: Deportivo ease relegations fears

Deportivo La Coruna took another huge step towards avoiding relegation from La Liga with a 2-0 win over Racing Santander on Sunday.

Goals on either side of half-time helped Miguel Angel Lotina’s men move five points clear of the bottom three after now collecting seven points of their last possible nine.

Tunisian forward Lassad Nouioui opened the scoring in the second minute of first-half stoppage time.

On-loan attacker Xisco Jimenez doubled the lead four minutes after the interval, leaving Racing Santander four points from the drop zone.

Two sides battling for a Europa League spot are Espanyol and Atletico Madrid who played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Estadi Cornella-El Prat.

Koke gave Atletico the lead after just two minutes but Pablo Osvaldo’s equaliser seven minutes before the break levelled proceedings.

Sergio Aguero again put the visitors in front just five minutes into the second half but Osvaldo scored his sixth goal in just nine games after 58 minutes to secure a point for the hosts.

Surprise packets Levante consolidated ninth spot with a 2-1 win over relegation-destined Hercules.

Two first-half goals guaranteed the points for Levante in a clash between two of this season’s promoted sides.

Attacker Ruben Suarez gave his side the lead in the fifth minute before Juanlu doubled their lead two minutes before the break.

Experienced striker David Trezeguet pulled a goal back in the 82nd minute but it was to no avail as Hercules remain three points from safety.

Real Sociedad snapped a seven-game winless run with a 2-1 win over Sporting Gijon.

Young Frenchman Antoine Griezmann scored a brace either side of an equaliser from Miguel de las Cuevas.

Griezmann opened the scoring in the 32nd minute before de las Cuevas hit a 69th minute leveller.

But Griezmann popped up 11 minutes from time to end a shocking run of form from his team and move them further from the relegation zone and into 12th.

Athletic Bilbao moved into fifth spot with a gutsy come from behind 2-1 win over Osasuna.

Forward Kike Sola gave Osasuna a 51st minute lead and when Bilbao left-back Xabier Castillo was sent off for a second bookable offence, it looked as though the hosts would win an important three points.

But attacker Fernando Llorente scored his 16th league goal of the season in the 69th minute to keep his team in the game.

They continued to hold on with 10 men before Osasuna centre-back Sergio Gonzalez also picked up a second yellow card.

Bilbao took their chance back with equal numbers on the pitch as Muniain popped up to score a late winner.

The loss leaves Osasuna two points away from the relegation zone.