Malaga continue their march towards the promised land: La Liga Round-Up and Highlights

AFP PHOTO/ JOSEP LAGO

Malaga’s Champions League dream is very much alive and kicking as they moved level on points with third-placed Valencia after a dramatic second-half comeback against Espanyol at Cornell-El Prat on Sunday.

The home side took the lead when the impressive Phillipe Coutinho netted mid-way through the first-half, however Malaga hit back in devastating fashion when first Ruud van Nistelrooy and then Martin Dimechelis both netted in the space of two minutes to leave Espanyol reeling.

It was the Andaluz side’s fourth win in five games and puts them three points ahead of fifth-placed Levante, who fell to a 2-0 home loss against Osasuna. The victory at the Ciutat de Valencia moves the team from Pamplona up to sixth in the table, just one point behind their hosts.

In the day’s early kick-off, Real Zaragoza continued their amazing renaissance by beating Atletico Madrid 1-0 courtesy of a dramatic 95th minute penalty from Apoño. The victory lifts los Manos from the foot of the table although they are still six points behind 17th placed Granada and safety.

Elsewhere, Athletic Club were held to a 1-1 draw by struggling Sporting Gijon after conceding with two minutes remaining at San Mames. It was only the first la liga point Marcelo Bielsa’s side have won in four games and all-but-ends any faint hopes they still had of grabbing a Champions League spot.

Villarreal followed up their morale-boosting draw against Real Madrid by beating Rayo Vallecano 2-0 at Vallecas, a result which sees them move six points clear of the drop zone.

In Sunday’s final encounter, Real Betis were pegged back to a 1-1 draw by Racing Santander at the Benito Villamarin, leaving the Seville side still looking nervously over their shoulders at the bottom.

 

REAL ZARAGOZA 1-0 ATLETICO MADRID

 

LEVANTE 0-2 OSASUNA

 

ATHLETIC CLUB 1-1 SPORTING GIJON

 

ESPANYOL 1-2 MALAGA

 

RAYO VALLECANO 0-1 VILLARREAL

 

REAL BETIS 1-1 RACING SANTANDER 

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