Levante edge Espanyol

Levante won a skirmish in the battle for a Champions League qualifying place when they beat Espanyol 2-1 away and climbed above the Barcelona-based club to fourth in La Liga on Saturday.

Levante, who are in the race for a berth in Europe’s elite club competition despite having one of the oldest squads in the league, snatched victory at the Cornella stadium when Ruben Suarez’s 89th-minute freekick was deflected into the net. Valdo, a former Espanyol player who also had a stint at Real Madrid, put Levante ahead against the run of play in the 25th.

Nigerian forward Kalu Uche came off the bench to grab the equaliser 15 minutes from time, performing his customary back flip in celebration, before Suarez struck the winner to give Levante their first victory in nine games since mid-December.

The Valencia-based club have 35 points from 24 matches, one more than fifth-placed Malaga, who thumped bottom side Real Zaragoza 5-1 in the earlier kickoff.
Espanyol stay on 33 points in sixth, level with Athletic Bilbao, who play at Villarreal on Sunday and can overtake Levante in fourth with a win.

Leaders Real Madrid, who are 10 points clear of second-placed Barcelona, play at city neighbours Rayo Vallecano on Sunday before Barca visit Atletico Madrid.

Fellow strugglers Racing Santander and Sporting Gijon drew 1-1 in Santander and are 18th and 19th respectively, while Real Betis and Getafe played out a 1-1 stalemate in Seville that left them in 11th and 13th.