MADRID - Europa League holders Sevilla maintained their push for a return to the Champions League next season with a comfortable 2-0 win over Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.
Sevilla's midfielder Daniel Carrico (R) celebrates with Vicente Iborra (C) and Timothee Kolodziejczak (L) after scoring during the Spanish league football match against Rayo Vallecano in Sevilla on April 26, 2015
Unai Emery's men had edged out Zenit St Petersburg in a gruelling 90 minutes to make it back to the semi-finals of the Europa League with a 2-2 draw in Russia on Thursday.
However, they showed little sign of fatigue in a commanding first 45 minutes and made the game safe before the break thanks to goals from Vicente Iborra and Daniel Carrico.
Victory moves the Andalusians a point above Valencia in the fight for a top four finish, although Los Che can move back into the final Champions League place should they avoid defeat at home to Granada on Monday.
Real Madrid can move back to within two points of leaders Barcelona when they face Celta Vigo later on Sunday.
At the other end of the table, Almeria gave their hopes of survival a huge boost with a 2-0 win over fellow strugglers Eibar thanks to goals from Thievy Bifouma and Verza.
That result elevated Almeria out of the relegation zone at Deportivo la Coruna's expense after they had earlier claimed a point in a 1-1 draw away to Malaga.