Levante beat Oviedo to boost survival hopes
Levante earned a crucial 4-2 win over Real Oviedo in La Liga on Saturday to boost their hopes of avoiding relegation.
In-form striker Carlos Espi netted twice for the Valencia side, 19th, in the opening 25 minutes against bottom-of-the-table Oviedo.
Ilyas Chaira and a Federico Vinas penalty helped Oviedo pull level towards the end of the first half.
However Iker Losada edged Levante ahead soon after the break with a deflected effort and Ivan Romero tucked home in stoppage time to seal Levante's win.
Luis Castro's side sit provisionally two points from safety, although Alaves, 17th, will play against Celta Vigo on Sunday.
Oviedo are losing hope of staying in the top flight and are seven points behind Alaves with nine matches remaining.
"We knew that it was an important game... we needed the win and we worked to get it," said Espi, who has scored six goals in his last four matches.
Elche, 16th, also earned a crucial 2-1 victory over Mallorca which left the islanders 18th.
The hosts ended a 13-game run across all competitions without a win, in part thanks to Mallorca striker Vedat Muriqi firing over a stoppage time penalty.
Getafe moved eighth by beating Espanyol 2-1 while Osasuna are ninth after defeating Girona 1-0. Later Saturday Sevilla host Valencia with both sides looking to climb away from danger.
On Sunday, La Liga leaders Barcelona welcome Rayo Vallecano before second-place Real Madrid host Atletico Madrid in a derby clash.
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