BARCELONA - Malaga stormed back to rout last-placed Zaragoza 5-1 and climb to within one point of fourth-placed Levante in the Spanish league on Saturday.
Levante, the early season sensation, won 2-1 at Espanyol, thanks to Ruben Suarez's late free kick for its first victory of 2012.
Following an $80-million squad overhaul this summer Malaga set its sights on a top-of-the-table finish to earn a spot in European competition next season.
And with its eighth win in 12 home games, the Qatari-owned club moved one point ahead of Espanyol and Athletic Bilbao in the midst of the fight for Spain's last Champions League spot come next season.
Zaragoza struck first in the 23rd minute at La Rosaleda Stadium through Carlos Aranda's volley, and moments later goalkeeper Roberto Jimenez again stood out in his team's otherwise dire campaign with an excellent save of a point-blank shot by Joris Mathijsen.
But Roberto could do nothing to keep out the unmarked Seba Fernandez's header off a pass from Francisco "Isco" Alarcon just before halftime to level the score.
Malaga pressed forward and went in front for good in the 67th when Isco's cross took a deflection off Paulo Da Silva and caught Roberto out of position.
The stroke of bad luck left Zaragoza reeling and the hosts soon took advantage.
Defender Martin Demichelis turned a header off the post and into the net in the 77th, and with Zaragoza's defence in tatters Isco rifled in a deserved goal two minutes later before striker Jose Rondon sealed the demolition in the 88th.
Zaragoza appears destined to play next season in the second division as they sit 11 points from safety.
Later in Barcelona, Levante won by returning to the same combination of team defence and speed on the break that fueled its unheralded run to sit briefly atop the table to start the season.
Espanyol dominated possession but Levante remained disciplined in the back until Valmiro "Valdo" Lopes finished off a counterattack in the 24th with a shot from a tight angle that grazed the post before hitting the net.
Substitute striker Kalu Uche appeared to have split the points with a header in the 75th, but Suarez's powerful free kick grazed a defender before bending around goalkeeper Kiko Casilla in the 88th to give Levante its first win in nine weeks.
Elsewhere Racing Santander came from behind for a 1-1 home draw against Sporting Gijon, while Getafe drew 1-1 at Real Betis.
Striker David Barral put Sporting ahead against the run of play when he blasted in a rising free kick for his eighth goal of the season in the 42nd minute.
But Racing equalised in the 74thl from the penalty spot.
Racing remain 18th in the 20-team division while Sporting sit three points behind in 19th.
Malaga on course for Europe
BARCELONA - Malaga stormed back to rout last-placed Zaragoza 5-1 and climb to within one point of fourth-placed Levante in the Spanish league on Saturday.
Levante, the early season sensation, won 2-1 at Espanyol, thanks to Ruben Suarez's late free kick for its first victory of 2012.
Following an $80-million squad overhaul this summer Malaga set its sights on a top-of-the-table finish to earn a spot in European competition next season.
And with its eighth win in 12 home games, the Qatari-owned club moved one point ahead of Espanyol and Athletic Bilbao in the midst of the fight for Spain's last Champions League spot come next season.
Zaragoza struck first in the 23rd minute at La Rosaleda Stadium through Carlos Aranda's volley, and moments later goalkeeper Roberto Jimenez again stood out in his team's otherwise dire campaign with an excellent save of a point-blank shot by Joris Mathijsen.
But Roberto could do nothing to keep out the unmarked Seba Fernandez's header off a pass from Francisco "Isco" Alarcon just before halftime to level the score.
Malaga pressed forward and went in front for good in the 67th when Isco's cross took a deflection off Paulo Da Silva and caught Roberto out of position.
The stroke of bad luck left Zaragoza reeling and the hosts soon took advantage.
Defender Martin Demichelis turned a header off the post and into the net in the 77th, and with Zaragoza's defence in tatters Isco rifled in a deserved goal two minutes later before striker Jose Rondon sealed the demolition in the 88th.
Zaragoza appears destined to play next season in the second division as they sit 11 points from safety.
Later in Barcelona, Levante won by returning to the same combination of team defence and speed on the break that fueled its unheralded run to sit briefly atop the table to start the season.
Espanyol dominated possession but Levante remained disciplined in the back until Valmiro "Valdo" Lopes finished off a counterattack in the 24th with a shot from a tight angle that grazed the post before hitting the net.
Substitute striker Kalu Uche appeared to have split the points with a header in the 75th, but Suarez's powerful free kick grazed a defender before bending around goalkeeper Kiko Casilla in the 88th to give Levante its first win in nine weeks.
Elsewhere Racing Santander came from behind for a 1-1 home draw against Sporting Gijon, while Getafe drew 1-1 at Real Betis.
Striker David Barral put Sporting ahead against the run of play when he blasted in a rising free kick for his eighth goal of the season in the 42nd minute.
But Racing equalised in the 74thl from the penalty spot.
Racing remain 18th in the 20-team division while Sporting sit three points behind in 19th.
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