Football
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Sporting Gijon beat Villarreal to stay up; Getafe, Rayo Vallecano relegated

Sporting Gijon clinched Spanish Primera Division survival by beating Villarreal 2-0 in front of their raucous home supporters.

Midfielder Jony Rodriguez gave Abelardo Fernandez's side the lead against a depleted Villarreal in the seventh minute with a fine volley, and Sergio Alvarez ensured their top-flight status a year after promotion with a 25-yard strike 11 minutes from time.

Sporting's destiny was out of their hands going into the final day of the season but Getafe's 2-1 defeat at Real Betis meant they took the final place outside the drop zone, finishing 17th on 39 points.

Getafe were relegated from the top flight after second-half goals from German Pezzella and Ruben Castro secured Real Betis a 2-1 home win.

Getafe began the day outside the bottom three on goal difference but victory for relegation rivals Sporting Gijon saw them slip into the second tier for the first time since 2004.

Juan Rodriguez's early header threatened to give Getafe a flying start but his effort was saved by Betis goalkeeper Dani Gimenez, while the visitors went close through similar efforts in quick succession from Stefan Scepovic and Pablo Sarabia midway through the first half.

Rayo Vallecano were the other relegation losers on the day after five years in the top flight despite beating Levante 3-1 on the final day of the season.

However, Sporting Gijon's 2-0 win over Villarreal condemned Paco Jemez's side to a return to the Segunda Division.

An impressive strike from Pablo Hernandez put Rayo ahead in the 11th minute and Jozabed deflected in an effort from captain Roberto Trashorras to make it 2-0 in the 23rd.

Verza reduced the deficit for Levante from the penalty spot but Rayo substitute Miku restored the two-goal cushion from close range, although by then news that Sporting were ahead against Villarreal had filtered through.

Gerard and Marco Asensio both struck twice as Espanyol closed their campaign with a 4-2 home win against mid-table Eibar.

Striker Gerard and midfielder Asensio scored goals in each half, while Borja Baston converted a penalty in the second period for Eibar, for whom Sergi Enrich added a last-minute header.

Malaga rounded off the campaign in style by recording their biggest victory of the season, a 4-1 thrashing of Las Palmas.

Willian Jose swiftly cancelled out Duje Cop's opener but striker Charles restored their lead before the break from the penalty spot and completed the rout after Christian Atsu had added the third, the first time Malaga had scored four goals in a game since Oct 26. 2014.

Malaga finish the season in eighth place on 48 points, four ahead of Las Palmas, who failed to win any of their last three games after sealing survival.

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