Malaga boosted their chances of securing a place in next season’s Champions League when they came from a goal down to win 2-1 at RCD Espanyol and draw level on points with third-placed Valencia on Sunday.
The Qatar-owned club fell behind in the 24th minute to a Philippe Coutinho strike, before former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward Ruud van Nistelrooy netted a 75th-minute equalizer moments after coming off the bench.
Malaga snatched the winner two minutes later when Espanyol goalkeeper Francisco Casilla saved Salomon Rondon’s header, only for Martin Demichelis to smash the loose ball into the net.
Photo: AFP
“We are on a good run of form and losing a few matches earlier in the season has helped inspire us to go for victory in every game,” Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini told a press conference after his side’s fifth win in six games. “Every point is very valuable because the standings are very congested.”
The victory lifted the Andalusians, one of Europe’s biggest spenders in recent seasons, into Spain’s fourth Champions League qualification place above Levante UD, who were beaten 2-0 at home by a CA Osasuna side also in the running.
With nine games remaining, Valencia, who lost 3-1 at Getafe on Saturday, hold on to third place thanks to a superior goal-difference over Malaga, while Levante stay three points behind and drop to fifth place.
Osasuna are a point behind Levante in sixth, three ahead of seventh-placed Espanyol, while Atletico Madrid are eighth, level on points with Getafe, after they conceded a penalty in stoppage-time and lost 1-0 at a resurgent Real Zaragoza.
Zaragoza, whose season has been overshadowed by financial problems and institutional strife, drew level with fellow struggler’s Sporting de Gijon and Real Racing Club de Santander on 25 points, but remain rooted to the bottom and six points from safety.
Gijon scored a late equalizer in a 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao, while Santander also came from behind to earn a point in a 1-1 stalemate at Real Betis Balompie.
“The only thing we can do is remain humble and maybe we have a chance of saving ourselves from relegation,” Zaragoza coach Manolo Jimenez told a press conference. “At the end of the game, with the heat and the very dry pitch, it was a toss-up whether we won or lost, and it was clear that whoever scored would take the three points.”
Bilbao are 10th on 38 points and Marcelo Bielsa’s side are without a win in three matches since they knocked Premier League side Manchester United out of the Europa League on March 15.
Villarreal’s 2-0 win at Rayo Vallecano de Madrid lifted them to 16th above Granada, who were due to host 12th-placed Sevilla yesterday.
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