( dpa ) - Sevilla recovered from Tuesday's Champions League elimination against Fenerbahce by moving up to sixth in the Spanish Liga on Sunday thanks to a 2-1 defeat of bottom team Levante.
Mustapha Riga gave Levante a shock lead after just four minutes with a long shot which surprised Sevilla keeper Andres Palop.
From then on Sevilla took control and in the 28th Seydou Keita made it 1-1 by heading in a centre from Jesus Navas. Four minutes into the second half Luis Fabiano scored the winner with his left foot, on a pass from Enzo Maresca.
The latest goal gives Luis Fabiano a total of 20 in La Liga, and leaves him well out on top of the scorers' chart.
Another team to enjoy Sunday were Racing Santander, who moved up to fifth by beating Betis 2-0 with second-half goals from Aldo Duscher, Ezequiel Garay and Mohamed Tchite. Betis were crippled by the sending-off of defender Melli.
Santander, who have never played in Europe, have 44 points from 27 games, the same quantity as fourth-placed Atletico Madrid, who lost 2-1 on Saturday in Zaragoza.
Sevilla, for their part, have 42 points, the same number as Espanyol, who were controversially beaten 2-1 on Saturday by leaders Real Madrid.
Sunday's early games all had an impact on the relegation situation.
Doomed Levante stay bottom with just 19 points after their defeat in Seville. Murcia, still on 23, also have a doomed look about them after crashing 0-3 at home to Getafe.
It was a dismal debut on the Murcia bench for former Spain boss Javier Clemente, who took over from Lucas Alcaraz on Thursday.
Third from bottom, on 29 points, are Recreativo Huelva, who were slaughtered 7-1 by rampant Mallorca, with Venezuelan playmaker Juan Arango banging in his first ever Liga hat-trick.
Deportivo Coruna have 30 points ahead of their game away to Valencia later on Sunday.
On 31 points are Valladolid, who lost 2-0 in Bilbao thanks to two goals from Igor Gabilondo.
Another team doing well to stay above the drop zone with Bilbao are Osasuna, 2-1 winners over Almeria.
Sunday's late game is between second-placed Barcelona and third team Villarreal. Barca, without the injured Lionel Messi, need to win in order to stay five points behind leaders Real Madrid.