Rayo Vallecano’s Raul de Tomas scored with a 47th-minute header for a surprise 1-0 win at Alaves and drag his side out of La Liga’s relegation zone for the first time this season.
The striker, on loan from Real Madrid, nodded home his ninth league goal of the season from close range to earn Rayo its fourth win from five matches.
Rayo’s surge in form has helped it rise to 17th place, two points clear of Galician side Celta Vigo.
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Fifth-placed Alaves was far below its best and fell to its first defeat at Mendizorroza all season, with Abelardo’s side winning just two of its last nine in all competitions.
Meanwhile at Rome, Genoa took a step toward safety with a 3-1 win at relegation-threatened Empoli in Serie A.
Christian Kouame, Darko Lazovic and Antonio Sanabria scored for Genoa while Giovanni Di Lorenzo had a temporary equalizer for Empoli.
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Genoa moved up to 13th place, nine points above the drop zone, while Empoli remained 17th, only three points above the bottom three.
It was Genoa’s second win in seven matches under new manager Cesare Prandelli, the former Italy coach.
Empoli has lost five of its last six games.
The results :
Serie A : Empoli 1 (Di Lorenzo 63) lost to Genoa 3 (Kouame 18, Lazovic 70, Sanabria 73).
La Liga : Alaves 0 lost to Rayo Vallecano 1 (Tomas 47) .