Cordoba C.F. 1 : 2 Rayo Vallecano - Rayo victory could be in vain

Rayo Vallecano's hopes of qualifying for the Europa League are effectively over despite completing a 2-1 Primera Division victory at relegated Cordoba.

Rayo climbed into 10th place when Adrian Embarba pounced with a 79th-minute winner at the Nuevo Arcangel.

The Madrid club took the lead in the 22nd minute through Raul Baena, but Cordoba equalised early in the second half when Luso found the back of the net.

Cordoba were proving hard to break down but the breakthrough eventually came when Embarba linked with Robert Trashorras to beat goalkeeper Mikel Saizar.

The goal may have secured Rayo's 15th league win of the season, but it was not enough to keep them in contention for European football.

A mortal blow to those hopes was struck when Athletic Bilbao disposed of Elche 3-2 in a five-goal thriller, a result that strengthened their grip on seventh place.

With one round of fixtures remaining, Athletic are three points ahead but with a vastly superior goal difference, while Malaga and Espanyol are also in the hunt.

Rayo could at least take pride from having extended their unbeaten run to four games - the first time they have managed such a sequence since 2014 - and from moving up a place in the table.

Cordoba avoided setting the inglorious La Liga record of completing a seventh successive match without finding the net when Luso was on target.