La Liga wrap: Malaga continue European pursuit

Malaga remain on the cusp of the top four in La Liga after a 4-2 win over Rayo Vallecano on Thursday.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side remain outside the Champions League places on goal difference alone after recovering from conceding an early lead to score a convincing win at the Estadio La Rosaleda.

The visitors went ahead from the penalty spot on five minutes after Jesus Gamez gave away a foul inside the Rayo area, Diego Costa the man to dispatch the spot kick,

Malaga were level before half-time though as Salomon Rondon scored 10 minutes before the break to restore parity.

It was Venezuelan Rondon who then put Malaga ahead with his second of the game just shy of the hour mark, before Enzo Maresca doubled the hosts’ advantage after 70 minutes.

Goalkeeper Wilfredo Caballero gave away another penalty kick to Rayo, which Robert Trashorras converted to keep the visitors in the match.

But any hopes of a comeback were dashed by Portuguese substitute Duda, who netted with four minutes to go in regular time to seal the win.

Elsewhere, Sevilla broke a run of three matches without a win with an impressive 3-0 victory away at Racing Santander.

Manu scored a second-half double for Sevilla after Jesus Navas had given the visitors an early lead at the Campos de Sport de El Sardinero, with Papakouli Diop sent off late in the mach to compound Racing’s pain.

Espanyol slipped further behind in their pursuit of a European place after they were held to a 1-1 draw by lowly Real Betis.