Malaga surges past Real Zaragoza

Malaga, Spain – Malaga came from a goal down to record a 5-1 place Real Zaragoza on Saturday at the Estadio La Rosaleda, ending a poor spell of form for the hosts.

A run of four defeats in six games left Malaga in the middle of the table, and the visitors took a surprising lead after 23 minutes when Angel Lafita's cross was swept into the net by Carlos Aranda.

Sebastian Fernandez scored just before halftime to level the score after a cross from Isco, and Malaga turned up the pressure in the second half and scored four times in 21 minutes to coast home.

Zaragoza fell behind midway through the half after an own goal from Paulo Da Silva, while Martin Demichelis made it 3-1 10 minutes later.

Isco added a fourth goal by converting a pass from Rondon, who found the net himself in the 88th minute after a cross from Nacho Monreal.

Zaragoza's defeat is the club's 15th in 24 games this season and leaves them 11 points from safety on the bottom of the league.

Levante 2, Espanyol 1

Barcelona, Spain - Levante climbed to fourth in La Liga on Saturday after snapping an eight-game winless run with a 2-1 victory at Espanyol.

Having lost three of its last four games, Levante was in need of a good result and started well with Valdo finding the bottom corner of the net after a pass from Arouna Kone.

Kalu Uche pulled the home side level 15 minutes from time by heading home a free kick from Joan Verdu, and it looked like a third draw in four games would be the end result for Espanyol.

But with the game about to enter stoppage time, Levante's Oscar Serrano was fouled near the edge of the penalty area by Javi Lopez of Espanyol.

Ruben Suarez then sent a free kick past goalkeeper Francisco Casilla and inside the right post to snatch the late win.

Racing 1, Sporting Gijon 1

Santander, Spain - Christian Stuani's penalty kick 15 minutes from time helped Racing salvage a 1-1 draw with Sporting Gijon on Saturday in a relegation battle at the El Sardinero Stadium.

Both teams found themselves in the drop zone prior to kickoff, and both remain in the bottom three following the result, with Racing sitting two points from safety while Sporting Gijon is five points back of 17th-place Villarreal.

Bernardo hit the post in the first half for Racing but it was Sporting that took the lead shortly before halftime from David Barral's free kick.

But Alejandro Galvez fouled Stuani inside the penalty area in the 75th minute and he picked himself up and leveled the match from the spot.

Real Betis 1, Getafe 1

Seville, Spain - Real Betis was denied three points on Saturday after an own goal from Chechu Dorado forced the hosts to settle for a 1-1 draw with Getafe.

Following an uneventful first half, Jorge Molina put Betis in front in the 51st minute by finishing off a pass from Jefferson Montero.

But just a few minutes later Getafe leveled the match as Dani Guiza's shot was redirected into his own net by Dorado as he attempted to clear the ball.

The two sides remain separated by one point near the middle of the table with Betis having claimed seven points from its last three games.