La Liga wrap: Malaga edge towards safety

Malaga beat Hercules 3-1 at home on Sunday to climb away from the La Liga relegation zone, while Racing Santander also won.

Visitors Hercules took the lead through Paraguay international Nelson Valdez four minutes into the match at La Rosaleda, but Brazil international Julio Baptista levelled for the home side just a minute later.

Hercules went down to 10 men in the 66th minute when Argentine Matias Fritzler received a second yellow.

Malaga passed up a chance to take the lead when midfielder Apono missed a penalty on 68 minutes, but they were in front four minutes later when Venezuelan forward Rondon found the back of the net.

Baptista struck his second and Malaga’s third on 76 minutes to make it 3-1, the win lifting Malaga up to 15th, four points clear of the relegation zone.

Hercules remain second from bottom and are now four points adrift of safety.

Elsewhere, Racing Santander put distance between themselves and the relegation battle courtesy of a valuable 2-0 win at home to Mallorca.

First-half goals from Swedish duo Markus Rosenberg and Kennedy Bakircioglu secured the points for hosts Racing, with Ivan Ramis missing a penalty for the visitors at Estadio El Sardinero.

The win sees Racing climb to 13th, five points clear of the drop zone.

Bottom side Almeria are now 11 points from safety after they lost 1-0 at home to Sevilla.

Brazil midfielder Renato scored the winner for Sevilla in the 58th minute.

Almeria had already been reduced to 10 men after Danish defender Michael Jakobsen received his marching orders seven minutes into the second half.

Getafe are now just two points clear of the relegation zone after they lost 2-1 away to Villarreal.

The visitors led at the break thanks to Pedro Rios’ first-half effort, but Cani levelled for Villarreal before Giuseppe Rossi struck to secure the points for the home side.

Levante were held to a 0-0 draw at home by fellow mid-table side Sporting Gijon.