Brazilian winger Savio scored a five-minute double as surprise packages Girona beat Rayo Vallecano 3-0 to return to second place on the La Liga table.
Savio helped the Catalans to move above Barcelona and to within six points of leaders Real Madrid with 12 rounds of the season to play.
“There is still a lot to do, but the team needed to win after three games without a win,” Girona coach Michel said.
Photo: EPA-EFE
“Today was difficult. The 3-0 score is not what we saw on the field, everything was more even,” he added.
Rayo remain 14th in the Spanish top-flight, seven points off the relegation spots after Pep Chavarria was sent off with 15 minutes left to play.
Ukraine winger Viktor Tsygankov supplied the opener after 52 minutes with a smooth side-footed finish.
Rayo’s chances of a win in northern Spain were dealt a blow with 15 minutes to go as Chavarria was shown two yellow cards in the space of 50 seconds. His first was after a late tackle on Yan Couto before being sent for an early shower for a rash challenge on Eric Garcia moments later.
Savio then made sure of all three points with his injury-time contributions, his second goal the highlight after he slalomed past the Rayo defense down the right wing to score.
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