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La Liga: Malaga rout Rayo Vallecano 5-0, while Osasuna lost 2-1 to Getafe

Image: Mounir El Hamdaoui: Enjoyed a dream Malaga debut

Mounir El Hamdaoui enjoyed a dream debut for Malaga by scoring a hat-trick in a 5-0 rout of Rayo Vallecano.

A late winner from Manuel Lanzarote allowed Espanyol to beat Granada 1-0 away from home in controversial circumstances as they moved up to fifth in the Primera Division. He started the move midway through the Valencia half and, in the blink of an eye, passes were threaded by Juanfran and Molina, leaving Salvo clean through and with the time to slot beyond Alves. The midfielder was enjoying the run of the field and his second soon arrived, with Alvaro Vadillo's brilliant no-look pass putting him clear on the left and he tucked in a third. He worked Alves before the break too as he sought out a first-half treble, while better accuracy from Molina could have made it four when the keeper failed to fully deal with Salva's free-kick. Javier Matilla also stung the palms of Alves and another goal looked inevitable, although when it arrived - Costa heading in Ever Banega's cross - it was not the strike many expected. Cedrick got Betis back on the front foot and drilled a shot at Alves and the striker, such a livewire since joining from Numancia for little over a thousand euros, then cracked an effort just over. There would be no further goals, though. The midfielder struck the only goal of the game on 76 minutes following an indirect free-kick inside the Granada area which was wrongly awarded for a backpass. Referee Ignacio Iglesias Villanueva then further angered the home crowd at El Nuevo Los Carmenes by sending off Odion Ighalo for dissent. The result means Espanyol are still unbeaten after four games and move up one place above Athletic Bilbao, while Granada remain on four points, in 10th place.

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